Special Consideration Policy

Company: Tyrogen Limited (16884876)
Owner: Quality Assurance
Approved by: Governing Body (or delegated authority per MD/GOVERNANCE/DELEGATION_OF_AUTHORITY.md)
Status: Draft (controlled policy)
Version: 0.1
Last updated: 2026-03-10
Next review: 2026-03-31

1) Purpose

To provide a consistent approach to special consideration where a learner’s performance may have been affected by temporary adverse circumstances at or immediately before the time of assessment.

Special consideration is intended to protect fairness without undermining the integrity of assessment outcomes.

1.1 Ofqual alignment

This policy supports compliance with:

• G7 (arrangements for Special Consideration)
• PR1 (fairness)

2) Scope

This policy applies to Tyrogen assessments and associated qualification decisions where a learner experiences temporary circumstances that:

• are outside the learner’s control, and
• have a credible impact on performance during assessment.

This policy does not replace reasonable adjustments planned in advance (see MD/POLICIES/REASONABLE_ADJUSTMENTS.md).

3) Principles

Tyrogen will manage special consideration in a way that is:

• Fair and consistent across learners and centres/providers
• Evidence-based and proportionate (decisions reflect the nature and severity of the circumstances)
• Maintains standards (any allowance must not compromise validity)
• Timely (requests and decisions handled promptly)
• Auditable (decisions and rationale documented).

4) Definitions

• Special consideration: a post‑assessment allowance to account for temporary adverse circumstances that occurred at or around the time of assessment.
• Reasonable adjustment: an agreed change to assessment arrangements planned in advance (see MD/POLICIES/REASONABLE_ADJUSTMENTS.md).

5) Eligibility and exclusions

5.1 When special consideration may be applied

Special consideration may be considered where the learner was prepared for and present at a scheduled assessment, and performance was affected by circumstances beyond their control, such as:

• illness or injury at or immediately before the assessment
• bereavement of a close family member or friend
• serious domestic crisis
• significant disturbance during an assessment session (e.g., incident affecting the assessment environment)
• failure or inadequacy of agreed reasonable adjustments.

5.2 When special consideration will not normally be applied

Special consideration will not normally be applied where:

• the learner was absent without authorisation
• there is insufficient supporting evidence
• the circumstances relate to general training/centre issues (e.g., staff shortages, facilities disruption) unless Tyrogen determines it had a direct and unavoidable impact at the time of assessment
• the assessment strategy requires demonstration of competence in a way that cannot be adjusted after the fact.

6) Process

6.1 Submission window

Requests should normally be submitted within 10 working days of the assessment date or the learner/centre being notified of the relevant decision.

6.2 Who can request

Requests may be made by:

• the centre/provider on behalf of the learner (recommended)
• the learner directly (where permitted)
• an employer/provider representative (where applicable).

6.3 Evidence requirements

Evidence should be proportionate to the request and may include:

• medical note/certificate or professional statement (where appropriate)
• centre/provider statement describing the circumstances and impact
• invigilator/proctor report (where applicable)
• other documentation supporting the claim.

6.4 Decision process and outcomes

1. Acknowledgement: Tyrogen will acknowledge requests within 2 working days.
2. Review: Tyrogen will review the submission, evidence, and assessment context.
3. Decision: Tyrogen will communicate a decision within 10 working days of acknowledgement.

Possible outcomes include:

• special consideration approved (with details of the allowance applied)
• special consideration refused (with rationale)
• further information requested.

Special consideration will not be applied automatically; each case is considered individually.

7) Exceptional circumstances: aegrotat / exceptional award (placeholders)

In exceptional circumstances, a learner may be unable to complete all assessment requirements due to serious, evidenced circumstances.

Where permitted by the relevant qualification/assessment rules, Tyrogen may consider an aegrotat / exceptional award approach. This is an exceptional decision based on:

• the learner’s performance in completed assessment components
• evidence of likely attainment
• the extent to which remaining requirements can be met or evidenced.

Considerations and controls:

• each case will be treated individually and will not set precedent
• evidence may include medical documentation, centre/provider statements, and progression/assessment records
• Tyrogen may interview the learner and/or centre/provider representatives.
• the decision will be made by an appropriately senior and competent panel/role(s) with conflicts checks.
• Tyrogen may refuse an exceptional award where it would undermine competence requirements or public confidence.

8) Records

Tyrogen will retain records including:

• request submission and evidence
• decision record and rationale
• communications log
• any corrective actions identified.

Retention follows MD/POLICIES/DATA_RETENTION.md.

9) Monitoring, misuse detection, and review

Tyrogen will monitor the operation and impact of Special Consideration arrangements to ensure they are:

• fair and consistently applied,
• evidence-based and proportionate,
• not being misused (including by Centres), and
• not undermining the validity of assessment outcomes.

Monitoring activities (proportionate to volume and risk) include:

• tracking the number and type of Special Consideration requests and approvals by qualification, assessment, and (where applicable) Centre;
• reviewing the overall impact of Special Consideration approvals on outcomes (where relevant and feasible);
• reviewing Special Consideration-related complaints, appeals and enquiries;
• targeted checks through Centre monitoring/audit activity (where Centres are used).

Where Tyrogen identifies potential misuse or inappropriate application of Special Consideration, Tyrogen will take corrective actions and may escalate matters as maladministration/malpractice where appropriate.

Tyrogen will review the effectiveness of its Special Consideration arrangements at least annually (and more frequently where risk indicates), using monitoring data and stakeholder feedback to inform improvements.

10) Appeals

If a learner or centre/provider believes a special consideration decision is unfair, they may appeal in line with MD/POLICIES/APPEALS.md.

11) Associated policies

• MD/POLICIES/REASONABLE_ADJUSTMENTS.md
• MD/POLICIES/APPEALS.md
• MD/POLICIES/COMPLAINTS.md
• MD/POLICIES/MALPRACTICE_AND_MALADMINISTRATION.md
• MD/POLICIES/DATA_RETENTION.md

12) Change log