If cancelled up to 30 days prior to the commencement of the course, fees are refunded, less $100 administration fee. Course materials must be returned in ‘as new’ condition, or the cost of these is to be deducted from the refund. Commencement of the course refers to either the first course day or commencement of pre-course sessions, whichever is earlier.

• Less than 30 days prior to the commencement of the course, there are no refunds provided.

• Where there is compassionate or medical reasons for deferring course attendance, the Wine Education Company will allow the course be deferred to a later date. For all assessment concerns, please refer to the Policy for Students Requiring Special Consideration.

• Where the course is postponed or cancelled for any reason, the Wine Education Company will offer the option of an alternative course date or a refund. All course fees will be refunded within seven days when selected as the preferred option.

Where invoices are unpaid and arrangements have not been made for payment, we reserve the right to charge 2%/month on overdue invoices. In the event that invoices are sent to collections, the debtor is liable for the collection fees and any overdue interest.

Special consideration is an action taken after an assessment to allow candidates who have been disadvantaged by temporary illness, injury, indisposition or adverse circumstances at the time of the assessment to demonstrate attainment.

A candidate may be eligible for special considerations if:

• Performance in an examination is affected by circumstances beyond the control of the candidate. This may include recent personal illness, accident, bereavement or examination room conditions;

• alternative assessment arrangements which were agreed in advance of the assessment proved inappropriate or inadequate;

• the application of special consideration would not mislead the end-user of the certificate.

Candidate Responsibilities

• The candidate must notify the Wine Education Company within five (5) days of the examination date using the Request for Special Consideration form.

• The candidate must provide supporting evidence of the circumstances requiring special consideration. Eligibility will only be considered if accompanied by supporting independent documentation.

Wine Education Company Responsibilities

• Where a Request for Special Consideration is received by the Wine Education Company, this will be submitted to WSET®Awards within seven (7) days of the relevant examination.

• In cases of serious disruption during the examination, the Examinations Officer will submit a detailed report of the circumstances and candidates affected to the Examinations Administrator at WSET® Awards, in addition to the Examination Papers.

Remedies and the Nature of Special Considerations 

• Where a candidate is unable to attend an examination due to recent personal illness, accident or bereavement, the Wine Education Group will endeavour to transfer the candidate to an alternative examination date at no extra cost.

• The Wine Education Group will not charge an unused paper fee for applications where approval from WSET® Awards is granted.

• WSET® Awards does not offer aegrotat awards and all assessment requirements of WSET® qualifications must be met.

• It is also our policy that special considerations will not give unfair advantage over candidates for whom special considerations are not being applied, or alter the assessment demands of the qualification as detailed in the qualification specification.

• Failure to attend due to work commitments does not qualify for “special consideration”.

Both WSET and Wine Ed Co want to make WSET assessments accessible for all students, so none are at an advantage or disadvantage based on a disability or differing ability. This policy and the reasonable adjustment process allows Wine Ed Co to work with each student before an assessment, gather the information needed to submit a request to WSET, and work with WSET to make arrangements that give students equitable access to WSET qualifications.

A reasonable adjustment is any accommodation or arrangement that helps to reduce the effect of a known disability or difficulty that substantially disadvantages a student’s assessment. The use of a reasonable adjustment does not impact WSET’s marking or the result of the candidate’s exam. The goal of reasonable adjustments is to equalise access for candidates – they must not give unfair advantage to candidates receiving the adjustment or affect the reliability and validity of the assessment outcomes as detailed in the applicable Specification. WSET cannot agree to reasonable adjustments where the candidate’s particular difficulty directly affects performance necessary to complete the assessment outcomes (e.g., if a student cannot taste for a Level 3 Exam where tasting is necessary).

Examples of reasonable adjustments include:

• Changing standard assessment arrangements, for example allowing candidates extra time to complete the assessment activity

• Adapting assessment materials, such as providing materials in large text format

• Providing access facilitators during assessment, such as a sign language interpreter or reader

• Reorganising the assessment room, such as removal of visual stimuli for an autistic candidate

Wine Ed Co will gather the information needed from students to submit a Reasonable Adjustment Application form to WSET. WSET must approve and arrange reasonable adjustments before the assessment activity takes place. Before completing enrolment, Wine Ed Co will give all students access to this policy and the chance to identify any special needs that could require a reasonable adjustment. If a student identifies a special need, we will give the student the Reasonable Adjustment Application form as soon as possible and work with the student to gather the necessary information.

For any student seeking a reasonable adjustment, please contact office@wineedco.com with:

• Full name

• Contact information

• Description of the special need, disability, or differing ability that requires an adjustment

• Supporting documentation

  Students must submit this information at least 25 days before the exam date. The information students submit will be shared with WSET and will be handled under WSET’s Privacy and Data Protection Policy.

  Wine Ed Co will keep records of all reasonable adjustment applications.

Both Wine Ed Co and WSET have policies and procedures in place to protect WSET students and safeguard the integrity of WSET qualifications. ensures compliance with Wine Ed Co’s and WSET’s policies through this Malpractice and Maladministration Policy, which gives a framework for both Wine Ed Co and students to identify, report, and manage potential malpractice or maladministration.

Non-compliance with Wine Ed Co’s or WSET Policies and Procedures can fall into two distinct, but related, categories:

1. Maladministration, where the non-compliance is generally unintentional, or the result of mistakes, carelessness, inexperience, or poor processes

2. Malpractice, where the non-compliance is intentional or the result of a negligent or reckless action without consideration of the consequences of the action

Context is important, and the line between maladministration or malpractice is not always clear. For example, maladministration incidents may become malpractice (e.g. if a party fails to implement corrective measures, repeats the same or a similar incident, or attempts to misrepresent or hide information during an investigation), or there may be mitigating factors that turn potential malpractice into maladministration. Though malpractice and maladministration are distinct concepts, they can shade into one another. Malpractice and maladministration are always case, context, and fact specific. Both APPs and students can commit malpractice and maladministration.

There are many ways that malpractice or maladministration could occur, including new ways which WSET and Wine Ed Co have not yet seen. Some examples of malpractice or maladministration include:

For APPs:

• Failure to adhere to WSET Policies and Procedures

• Failure to follow WSET requirements for course delivery or exam regulations

• Failure to follow WSET’s candidate registration and certification procedures

• Late student registrations

• Fraudulent claim for certificates/fraudulent use of certificates/reproduction or forgery of certificates

• Withholding critical information from WSET quality assurance

• Insecure storage of exam materials

• Revealing or sharing confidential exam materials with candidates ahead of an exam

• Intentional attempts to manipulate exam results so that they do not reflect the candidate’s actual exam performance

• Issue of incorrect exam results/failure to issue results to students promptly

• Failure to promptly respond to WSET

• Unauthorized reading/amendment/copying/distribution of exam papers

• Failure to report changes in APP ownership/personnel/location/facilities

• Denying WSET access to information, documentation, workforce, or facilities

• Failure to return exam papers within the specified time limit or to follow delivery and tracking regulations

• Infringements of WSET copyright, trademarks, intellectual property rights, and brand identity

• Use of unqualified and/or unregistered educators or internal assessors

• Breach of confidentiality

• Misleading advertising/publicity

• Any action likely to lead to an adverse effect

• Failure to disclose a Conflict of Interest

  For students:

• Cheating, or facilitating cheating, including the use of unauthorised devices or materials

• Disruptive behaviour in an exam

•  Impersonation (including forgery of signatures)

• Unauthorised reading/amendment/copying/distribution of exam papers

• Any action likely to lead to an adverse effect

• Breach of confidentiality

  In general, Wine Ed Co also expects that both our staff and students will treat others and be treated professionally and respectfully at all times. We will treat inappropriate behaviour, including verbal or physical abuse, persistent or unrealistic demands, or threats that cause stress to staff, as misconduct and may report such student misconduct to WSET as necessary.

Reporting and Investigation of Malpractice or Maladministration

As an APP, Wine Ed Co aims to ensure compliance with WSET Policies and Wine Ed Co’s policies and will keep records of potential or actual malpractice or maladministration by students or staff.

Wine Ed Co is required to notify WSET at once of any non-compliance issues that could be malpractice or maladministration, so that WSET can investigate the non-compliance under their own Malpractice and Maladministration Policy.

Wine Ed Co asks that students also raise any concerns or non-compliance issues that may be malpractice or maladministration as soon as possible by following the process outlined in the our Complaints policy.

During WSET’s investigation, they may reach out to Wine Ed Co or to students directly to request further information or conduct an interview. Please respond to any requests promptly and honestly.

Managing Non-Compliance

If WSET identifies malpractice or maladministration, they will consider its impact and may apply sanctions. WSET will take all reasonable steps to ensure the sanctions do not disadvantage uninvolved students affected by malpractice or maladministration. However, in some cases, they may need to disallow or withhold results and/or certificates.

Potential sanctions may include:

• Written Warning. The student is issued with a written warning that if the offence is repeated within a set period of time, then further specified sanctions will be applied.

• Exam Result Declared Null and Void. A student’s exam result is disallowed; this may include invalidation and recall of a certificate already issued.

• Student Disqualification. The student is disqualified from taking part in any courses or assessments leading to WSET qualifications; this includes access to WSET materials.

• Disqualification from use of WSET certified logos and postnominals. Actions bringing WSET into disrepute may result in the student or graduate being barred from use of WSET postnominals and WSET certified logos.

Appeals

When a student wishes to appeal penalties or sanctions which WSET has imposed due to Malpractice or Maladministration, they should please follow the procedures laid out in WSET’s Complaints Policy.

The Wine Education Company is approved by WSET Awards which is subject to regulation by the UK Government’s regulator, OfQual.  As a regulated awarding organisation, we are required to identify, monitor and manage all conflicts of interest which may have an adverse effect on the qualifications we offer and we must take all reasonable steps to mitigate such adverse effect where it exists.

This document offers guidance to individuals engaged in activities undertaken on behalf of WSET Awards (the awarding organisation of the Wine & Spirit Education Trust) which have potential to lead them to act contrary to the interests of WSET Awards in the development, delivery, assessment and award of its regulated qualifications.

It defines what is meant by conflict of interest, describes such conflicts of interest in the context of working with WSET Awards, identifies those conflicts of interest that can be managed and are therefore acceptable and those that cannot be managed and are therefore unacceptable.  It also gives examples of potential conflicts of interest.

Scope of this policy

This policy is applicable to all members of staff employed by the Wine & Spirit Education Trust and to any individual acting on behalf of WSET Awards.  This includes those involved in the development of WSET qualifications, question-setting, marking of assessments, delivery of WSET programmes of study leading to WSET qualifications, marketing of WSET qualifications, production of study materials, examination papers, qualification certificates and all other associated resources and services.

It relates to WSET regulated qualifications offered in the United Kingdom and international markets.

Definition of conflict of interest

A conflict of interest exists where an individual has interests or loyalties that could adversely influence their judgement, objectivity or loyalty to WSET Awards when conducting activities associated with our qualifications.  These can arise in many different aspects of awarding organisation activity, such as:

• An individual whose personal interests or loyalties conflict with their awarding organisation involvement.

• An individual who receives remuneration for services that conflict with their awarding organisation involvement.

• An individual whose acts put WSET Awards in a position of non-compliance with its regulatory responsibilities.

Whilst it would be impossible to give a definitive list of scenarios representing potential conflicts of interest, the following have been identified from WSET Awards’ Risk Management review as significant.  However, other scenarios will constitute conflicts of interest, and we will take actions to redress any such instances that come to our attention other than by declaration from the individual concerned.  Such actions may also include the imposition of sanctions, if deemed appropriate.

Specific examples of conflicts of interest include the following:

• The undertaking of any assessment of candidates by an individual who has a personal interest in the result of the assessment for any or all individuals concerned.

• The undertaking of any moderation of assessment of candidates by an individual who has a personal interest in the result of the assessment for any or all individuals concerned.

• The tutoring of candidates by any individual involved in the assessment process.

• The undertaking of a WSET-regulated qualification by any individual employed by an APP.

• The undertaking of a WSET-regulated qualification by any individual employed by WSET Awards.

• The invigilation of a WSET-regulated qualification by any individual involved in the delivery of training leading to the assessment.

• The delivery of “coaching sessions” to examination candidates by any individual involved in the assessment of candidate scripts or the authoring of examination questions.

• The employment by an APP of individuals engaged in the delivery of taught programmes or in the role of Internal Assessor in another APP.

Some of these examples can be managed and are therefore acceptable.  For example, the marking of tasting assessments by Level 3 Internal Assessors is ALWAYS verified by WSET Awards as they have an interest in the results of the assessments of learners they have taught. Our verification process mitigates this conflict of interest.  Similarly, where an employee of the WSET or one of its APPs undertakes a WSET qualification, we can put measures in place to maintain the integrity of the assessment, PROVIDED we are notified of this conflict of interest in advance of the assessment.  However, it would be inappropriate for any individual involved in the authoring of examination questions or the compilation of examination papers to teach or coach learners under any circumstances as there are no options for us to mitigate the effect of this clear conflict of interest.

GUIDANCE ON HANDLING CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

Any individual engaged with WSET Awards in the provision of our regulated qualifications, as identified under the scope of this policy, is required to make a “Declaration of Interest” by informing WSET Awards of any potential conflict of interest.  Certain individuals, such as those involved in the assessment process are also required to submit a signed declaration of “Non-disclosure”.  It is essential that any conflict of interest is declared to WSET Awards immediately to ensure this does not compromise our status of compliance with our regulator, Ofqual.  Any APP who fails to declare a potential conflict of interest is in breach of our criteria for approval, and sanctions may be applied to their approval status as a result.

WSET Awards has processes and procedures in place to manage actual or perceived conflicts of interest.  These include the exclusive involvement of WSET Awards staff in the creation of all assessment materials, moderation of all internal assessment conducted by APPs and moderation of all written examinations not marked by optical mark readers.  There are of course many other instances of conflict of interest for which we do not have documented procedures in place.  Such instances will be handled on an individual basis to ensure that the integrity of our assessments is not compromised.

ROLES, RESPONSIBILITIES AND PROCEDURES IN THE HANDLING OF ACTUAL OR PERCEIVED CONFLICT OF INTEREST

The Director of WSET Awards and the Centres Co-ordination and Quality Assurance Manager have responsibility for the day-to-day managing of conflicts of interest relating to functions of WSET Awards.  The members of the Senior Management Team of the Wine and Spirit Education Trust have responsibility for the day-to-day managing of conflicts of interest relating to functions of the Wine and Spirit Education Trust’s functions as a whole.

It is the responsibility of all individuals engaged in the provision of WSET qualifications to promptly report any potential for conflict of interest to the Centres Co-ordination and Quality Assurance Manager at WSET Awards.

All instances of conflict of interest will be recorded in WSET Awards Incidents Register, including details of steps taken to mitigate any adverse effect resulting from such conflict of interest.  The Director of WSET Awards is responsible for determining what action needs to be taken to mitigate any adverse effect and for deciding when and how matters relating to actual or potential conflicts of interest should be escalated within the Wine & Spirit Education Trust, to the Board of Trustees or to the Regulator, Ofqual.

The Wine Education Company fully supports the principles of Equal Opportunities.  We strive to ensure that all candidates for our qualifications are treated fairly and on an equal basis

Equal Opportunities are assured by:

• the selection, recruitment and training of those working for this APP;

• consideration at an early stage in the development of new schemes or qualifications;

• ensuring that the format and content of all syllabi, examinations and other do not discriminate against anyone which is the responsibility of WSET Awards by whom we are approved to teach WSET qualifications;

• ensuring there are no barriers to entry to units and qualifications, which we deliver and/or offer, for disabled people, women or men, or people from different racial groups, other than those directly related to the integrity of the units or qualifications. The nature of any barriers will be stated and the inclusion of the requirements that create the barrier justified only and explicitly in terms of the integrity of the unit or the qualification.  Details of how the effect of any barriers will be mitigated will be recorded, including using access arrangements or including reasonable adjustments.

• clarifying the responsibility of all members of staff and/or consultants, who are involved in the delivery of WSET courses within this APP, to comply with this policy. In particular external parties invited by this APP to contribute to these development arrangements must also, as representatives of relevant learners, ensure that the views of learners and others are taken into account in the development of QCF units and qualifications.

• anonymous assessment of examination candidates wherever possible;

• promoting practices and procedures that give equal opportunities to everyone;

• being required to have equal opportunity policies in place;

• the variation of any conventional rules and regulations for the conduct of examinations which might inhibit the performance of candidates with specific needs, provided that the standard, quality and integrity of the assessment is not compromised.

• working as appropriate with relevant organisations and agencies to develop measures to identify and prevent inequality of opportunity;

• making every effort to ensure that there is equality of opportunity in its assessment process, regardless of the candidate’s gender, age, racial origin, religious persuasion, sexual orientation or disability;

• ensuring, to the best of our ability, that any documentation produced does not contain language or images which may be regarded as offensive or stereotypical, and that they reflect the diversity of contemporary society;

This APP is an equal opportunities organisation and will consider applications from any organisation or individual who can demonstrate that they meet our approval criteria.

This policy is published  on our website or Candidate Booking Form and will be provided to any student on demand

Monitoring

This APP  will comply with all current and relevant legislation and this policy will be monitored and reviewed annually.

As part of the monitoring of candidates registering for a WSET® qualification we will collect information on diversity, requests for special consideration, access arrangements and feedback from learners, centres and other stakeholders.

All relevant issues identified as suggesting our provision or services have unnecessary impact on learners will be reported back to the Centre Registration and Quality Assurance Manager who will be responsible for leading on introducing amendments to provision and/or services where necessary and in accordance with our documented procedures for developing and reviewing units and qualifications.  Details of the outcomes of each review will be made available to the qualification regulators upon request.

NOTE TO CANDIDATES

Candidates who believe they have been discriminated against should contact us in the first instance for advice.