Review for Educational Oversight:
Guidance on second visits and follow-up action
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A provider may request a second visit if the review team makes a provisional
judgement of limited or no confidence in either the management of academic standards or
the management or enhancement of the quality of learning opportunities, or of no reliance on
information about learning opportunities. This guidance note sets out the process for
applying for a second visit and outlines the procedure for undertaking a second visit.
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QAA will consider a second visit on the following grounds:

the provider identifies relevant evidence, that was in existence at the time of the
review visit, that was not scrutinised during the review, and could have a significant
bearing on the final judgements
errors were identified in public information which need to be corrected, but do not
indicate systemic problems in the provider's processes for managing the accuracy
or completeness of public information.

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On receipt of the provisional judgement letter, the provider should carefully consider
the recommendations of the review team. The provider considers that the team did not
review all of the relevant evidence at the time of the review visit, or that the review team has
misinterpreted the evidence made available to it. If so, the provider should email the Head of
Oversight and Accreditation at QAA at [email protected] within one week of the date
of the provisional judgement letter, indicating that they may want to request a second visit.
The Head of Oversight and Accreditation will acknowledge the request and ask the provider
to make a formal request for a second visit within one week of receipt of the draft report.
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The provider should carefully read the draft report and consider if it wishes to
request a second visit. QAA encourages the provider to consult with its awarding bodies/
organisations as appropriate. The provider may submit further evidence in support of its
comments on the draft report. Any additional evidence provided must have existed at
the time of the first review visit. The review team will consider this evidence and
determine whether the provisional judgements still stand. If the review team considers that
the additional evidence may have a significant impact on the judgements, then QAA will
decide whether the team should undertake a second visit.
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The decision as to whether there should be a second visit rests with QAA. If QAA
decides that a second visit should not take place then the Head of Oversight and
Accreditation will write to the provider informing them of the decision. The provider may then
make a formal appeal (see www.qaa.ac.uk/Complaints/Pages/Appeals.aspx).
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If QAA decides that a second visit should take place it will normally be scheduled to
take place eight weeks after the first visit, on the dates that were agreed with the provider at
the preparatory meeting. The review team for the second visit will normally be the same as
for the first review visit. QAA will ensure that the details of the arrangements for the second
visit are copied to the awarding body/ies or organisation(s) as appropriate. At the end of the
second visit, the review coordinator will inform the provider of the final judgements reached
by the team. There is no further judgement meeting after a second visit.
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If the second visit results in judgements of confidence in the management of
academic standards and the management and enhancement of the quality of learning
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opportunities, and that reliance can be placed on information about learning opportunities,
the provider should complete the action plan, which is published alongside the final report.
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If the second visit results in a judgement of limited or no confidence in academic
standards and/or the quality of learning opportunities, and/or no reliance on information
about learning opportunities, the review team will update the report and offer the provider
and its awarding body/ies or organisation(s) an opportunity to comment on the factual
accuracy of the revised report. After the review team has considered any comments and
produced the final version of the report, if the provider and its awarding body/ies or
organisation(s) disagree with these outcomes on grounds of failure to follow due process or
perversity of judgement, they may consider using the QAA procedure on appeals (see
www.qaa.ac.uk/Complaints/Pages/Appeals.aspx). If the provider and its awarding body/ies
or organisation(s) decide not to make an appeal, or if the appeal is not successful, the report
will be published.
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Please see the separate guidance note on follow-up action for details on how the
provider may apply for a re-review, following a published judgement of limited or no
confidence in academic standards or the quality of learning opportunities, and/or no reliance
on information about learning opportunities.
Flow chart for a possible second visit
Provisional judgement letter indicates limited/no confidence or no reliance
Provider notifies QAA that it wishes to consider a second visit
Provider receives draft report, makes comments on the factual accuracy and identifies any
additional evidence
Review team considers provider's comments and additional evidence and makes
recommendation to QAA, and produces draft 4 of the report
QAA determines whether a second visit should go ahead.
Second visit takes place
Second visit does not take place
Draft 7 of the report produced – provider
comments on factual accuracy
Provisional judgements are confirmed.
Provider completes action plan
The provider receives the revised draft 4 and
is offered the opportunity to appeal the final
judgements
Confirmed
judgements are
confidence/
reliance
Confirmed
judgements are
limited/no
confidence or no
reliance
Report and action
plan published
The provider receives
the revised draft 4
and is offered the
opportunity to appeal
the final judgements
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Timeline for a second visit
Time +/- visit
Actions required
Preparation
Provisional
judgement
letter
The provider may indicate to QAA whether they will wish to request a
second visit (see paragraph 3 on page 1).
The provider reads the draft report, and considers whether there is any
additional evidence available that the team did not receive during the visit,
and which may cause the team to reconsider their judgements.
When the
provider
receives the
draft report
(draft 3)
The provider returns comments on the draft report to the Coordinator,
with any additional supporting evidence, and confirms the request for QAA
to consider a second visit. (NB: any additional evidence submitted
must have been in existence at the time of the review visit.)
The review team considers the provider's comments and any additional
evidence submitted. If the team considers that a second visit is warranted,
the coordinator will discuss this with QAA. QAA will make the final decision
about whether a second visit should go ahead.
If QAA agrees that a second visit is warranted, the coordinator confirms
with the provider the date of the second visit, as agreed provisionally at the
preparatory meeting.
(If QAA decides that a second visit is not warranted, the report will be
finalised and the provider will be given the opportunity to make a formal
appeal (see paragraph 5 on page 1).)
1 week before
the second
visit takes
place
The coordinator confirms the arrangements for the second visit and
agrees the agenda with the provider and its awarding body/bodies.
Provider, awarding body/bodies and review team receive copies of
all correspondence from QAA and the coordinator and prepare for the
second visit.
Second visit
Review team visits the provider to conduct the second visit.
Coordinator leads/chairs the second visit (review support officer also in
attendance).
Provider takes part in the second visit.
Awarding body/ies or organisation(s) take part in the second visit,
if considered necessary.
0 week
Coordinator provides an oral report and the judgements to the head of the
provider and his/her nominated staff before the team leaves at the end of
the visit.
Review team accompanies the coordinator to provide the oral report and
the judgements to the provider staff.
Provider (and awarding body/ies or organisation(s), if present)
receives the oral report and the judgements.
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Report writing
QAA sends a letter confirming the final outcomes to the provider and
copies this to the awarding body/ies or organisation(s) and UKBA.
Awarding body/ies or organisation(s) receive letter from QAA
confirming the final review judgements.
+1 week
Review team drafts report text (draft five)
Coordinator collates and edits the team's text, and sends draft five of the
report to the review team for finalisation.
Review team comments on draft five of the report.
+2 weeks
+4 weeks
Coordinator prepares draft six of the report and submits it to the QAA
review support officer and Multimedia Team for editing (draft 6)
Coordinator prepares draft seven of the report. QAA sends it to the head
of the provider and to the awarding body/ies or organisation(s).
Provider and awarding body/ies or organisation(s) receive draft seven.
Provider checks draft seven for factual accuracy.
Awarding body/ies or organisation(s) provide any comments to the
provider.
+5 weeks
Awarding body/ies or organisation(s) contribute to the provider's
development of the action plan to address any recommendations, limited
or no confidence judgement(s), and/or a no reliance conclusion.
Provider liaises with relevant staff to complete the action plan.
Provider returns collated comments on the factual accuracy of draft seven
to coordinator.
+6 weeks
Coordinator uploads report to Qmmunity for review team's consideration.
Review team considers the comments of the provider and the awarding
body/bodies or organisation(s) and posts responses to Qmmunity.
Review team confirms review.
Coordinator completes draft eight of the report.
+7 weeks
Provider returns the completed action plan to QAA, signed by the head of
the provider.
Awarding body/ies or organisation(s) receive a copy of the completed
action plan from the provider.
Report published
QAA combines draft eight of the report and the completed action plan.
QAA Multimedia Team proofreads finalised draft eight of the report, which
is signed off by the QAA Head of Governance.
+12 weeks
QAA publishes the final draft only if the judgements are confidence and
there is reliance on public information. If one or more judgements are of
limited or no confidence and/or there is a conclusion of no reliance in
public information, the report remains in draft until the end of any
representation raised by the provider and its awarding body/bodies or
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organisation(s). At the end of this period the judgements are considered
and QAA finalises and publishes the report.
Implementing the Action plan
Provider implements the action plan with its awarding body/bodies.
Awarding body/ies or organisation(s) may wish to help the provider to
implement its action plan, particularly if the limited or no confidence
judgement(s) relate to its awards.
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