NVQ2 Nail Services - Are my Assessors subject to quality control?

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Busy Bee

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Just a little thing that's been playing on my mind recently...

Because of time constraints I have just been on a 4 day intensive + home study for NVQ 2 Nail Services (only afterwards seeing some of the reviews :rolleyes:). I'm looking to do extra training with Creative anyway to bridge the gap, but it got me wondering...

Should I be concerned about my assessor?

I understand my assessment will be conducted by my course tutor. If this is the case, I'm concerned that the tutor/assessor's standards may be lower (on the basis that if the lessons could not be as comprehensive perhaps corners will be cut when assessment comes round). I'm hoping the assesment stage will have the same standard nationwide, but I'd really apperciate some peace of mind?

Can someone please explain how the assessors and the assessment process is regulated to ensure good quality control. I don't want to pass NVQ 2 Nail Services if I've not reached the required standard.

Thanks huns! :hug:
Love Busy Bee:Love:
x xx x xx x xx x
 
Well, firstly, your assessor will be your course tutor. When that's done your work and marks will be externally verified. They have to follow the curriculum as laid down, but, and I don't want to concern you too much, my experience last year when I did exactly the same course here at college left a lot to be desired. I have said on this forum many times, my tutor when assessing my sculptors passed me (they were c**p) said that was OK as they weren't used in industry anyhow. What the?? Well since being on here I know differently and have done 2 conversion courses with NSI and EzFlow. Hope this helps a little. :hug:
 
Well, firstly, your assessor will be your course tutor. When that's done your work and marks will be externally verified. They have to follow the curriculum as laid down, but, and I don't want to concern you too much, my experience last year when I did exactly the same course here at college left a lot to be desired. I have said on this forum many times, my tutor when assessing my sculptors passed me (they were c**p) said that was OK as they weren't used in industry anyhow. What the?? Well since being on here I know differently and have done 2 conversion courses with NSI and EzFlow. Hope this helps a little. :hug:

:hug: Thanks for your post!

That's exactly my concern! I'm desparate to provide a quality service and even use good codes of practice as a selling factor to reassure clients who want to keep their nails healthy and may not realise that it can be done with extensions. If you say it is externally varified then all being well they will have the final say and will pass me only if I have earned it.

I would be very interested to know however if you trained with NSI and EzFlow in between your course and your assessment or after your assessment. And if before, how much did it help you achieve your NVQ2?

I'm looking at Creative to do additional training. Did you find that NSI and EzFlow provided better training?

Thanks for your comments hun! I really appreciate it!
:Love:
 
Hi, again,

The books are externally verified AFTER your tutor has assessed you to say you did it right. The only time a verifier came into college whilst we were in class was to assess the tutor's teaching. Oh, I think maybe there was one who came later on in the course to talk to a member of the class (who was picked out of a hat - me!) and asked about the college standards. Well, who's going to be completely truthful? I wish I had had the guts. Being green to the nail world it wasn't until my daughter sent me the link to this site that my eyes were opened, and thank God for it! I did a one-day conversion course with NSI which was good as the lady showed me some good tips, and I did a one-day conversion course with EzFlow products. That was just as good and the 1:1's are invaluable. There is nothing like being tutored with someone who knows what they are doing and has a lot of experience in the industry. If you want to go on to do a CND course after you have got your qualification, go for it. It's the best thing you can do. Don't be too disheartened, ongoing training is exactly what everyone does even when they are good at what they do. Good luck. :hug:
 
Hiya,

I am a tutor and assessor. It is the norm for you tutor to be your assessor. Most courses are continuous assessment, ie you are assessed as you go through your course work, so it makes perfect sense that you tutor IS your assessor.

Once you've been assessed by your tutor, the marked work (portfolio) is passed onto an INTERNAL VERIFIER. The IV is a member of staff in the college, usually linked to the course that you are on, but sometimes have no knowledge of the subject that is being marked. The IV remarks the work, ensuring that the assessor has marked correctly and fairly across the board. (this ensures that no favourtism has been taking place).

Once that has been done, a few times a year an EXTERNAL VERIFIER comes into the college. they do not work for the college, have no personal links with the college, ie not a member of staff. They try and come in and mark a section of the portfolios, and if they can, come into the classroom and speak directly to some of the students.

Now, the IV and EV are really there to ensure that the ASSSESSOR has done a good job, so, it ensures that the assessor DOES do a good job as, they don't want to be questioned or grilled over their work.

Your tutor/assessor will have taken seperate qualifications to become an assessor. They are allocated a reference number. Everything they mark, they have to sign and use their personal assessor's number. It is all geared towards the fact that they are 'accountable' for everything that they do, ie come back would be enforced if their assessing wasn't up to scratch.

Tutors/assessors now have to do CPD points to ensure that they are current with modern developments.

I hope that helps in some way. I know I've left something out, but can't recall what it is.
 
Remembered!!!

I am a bank tutor, ie registered with a company that sends me to teach for various colleges, so therefore am not employed directly by the colleges.

I was told halfway through teaching a diploma in reflexology, that I would have direct payments taken out of my wages to cover insurance and that this was necessary to keep on teaching for them.

I queried this, and was told that the insurance was cover for students sueing to say that they had been taught incorrectly in the future.

I refused to pay it, to me that was saying that my teaching was questionable. To cut a very long and boring story short, I was exempt from paying this insurance for that course only. Any other teaching assignment I accepted from them, I would then have to pay this extra insurance. I finished my assignment and haven't gone back.

I do understand that their are some shoddy teachers out there, but to have to take out insurance incase you are sued for incorrect teaching is (IMO) outrageous.
 
Hi, again,

The books are externally verified AFTER your tutor has assessed you to say you did it right. The only time a verifier came into college whilst we were in class was to assess the tutor's teaching. Oh, I think maybe there was one who came later on in the course to talk to a member of the class (who was picked out of a hat - me!) and asked about the college standards. Well, who's going to be completely truthful? I wish I had had the guts. Being green to the nail world it wasn't until my daughter sent me the link to this site that my eyes were opened, and thank God for it! I did a one-day conversion course with NSI which was good as the lady showed me some good tips, and I did a one-day conversion course with EzFlow products. That was just as good and the 1:1's are invaluable. There is nothing like being tutored with someone who knows what they are doing and has a lot of experience in the industry. If you want to go on to do a CND course after you have got your qualification, go for it. It's the best thing you can do. Don't be too disheartened, ongoing training is exactly what everyone does even when they are good at what they do. Good luck. :hug:

That's great! Thank you so much for the reassurance :hug: I think I'll have a look into all 3 companies and compare what they have to offer, particularly the 1:1 sessions as you mention! I completely agree; continual training is going to be essential! For now I think I'll study as many text books as I can to avoid developing any bad habits and all being well it should put me in good sted to progress.

I have to say I'm delighted to have found a year long level NVQ3 Nail Services evening course about 45 min drive away - yeppie!:green:
At least one things sorted!
:Love:x
 
I see - so there are 3 levels of assessors to ensure standards are maintained. The point about CPD points is also good to know and look out for. That's certainly reassuring. :hug: Thank you

I do note what you say about the insurance issue however. I would like to think it would be an extreem minority who would rely upon such insurance but I suppose you have to be personally pro-active about developing your skills anyway so that should overcome that small percentage if that were to occur.

Thank you oodles for the advice hun - really kind of you.
:Love:
 
Hiya,

I am a tutor and assessor. It is the norm for you tutor to be your assessor. Most courses are continuous assessment, ie you are assessed as you go through your course work, so it makes perfect sense that you tutor IS your assessor.

Once you've been assessed by your tutor, the marked work (portfolio) is passed onto an INTERNAL VERIFIER. The IV is a member of staff in the college, usually linked to the course that you are on, but sometimes have no knowledge of the subject that is being marked. The IV remarks the work, ensuring that the assessor has marked correctly and fairly across the board. (this ensures that no favourtism has been taking place).

Once that has been done, a few times a year an EXTERNAL VERIFIER comes into the college. they do not work for the college, have no personal links with the college, ie not a member of staff. They try and come in and mark a section of the portfolios, and if they can, come into the classroom and speak directly to some of the students.

Now, the IV and EV are really there to ensure that the ASSSESSOR has done a good job, so, it ensures that the assessor DOES do a good job as, they don't want to be questioned or grilled over their work.

Your tutor/assessor will have taken seperate qualifications to become an assessor. They are allocated a reference number. Everything they mark, they have to sign and use their personal assessor's number. It is all geared towards the fact that they are 'accountable' for everything that they do, ie come back would be enforced if their assessing wasn't up to scratch.

Tutors/assessors now have to do CPD points to ensure that they are current with modern developments.

I hope that helps in some way. I know I've left something out, but can't recall what it is.

Nope honey you have covered everything.

The only thing i would add is that most college tutors are all rounders and teach an array of subjects. In some but not all colleges they have a specialised tutor in nails.

Hope this information help:hug:
 
Nope honey you have covered everything.

The only thing i would add is that most college tutors are all rounders and teach an array of subjects. In some but not all colleges they have a specialised tutor in nails.

Hope this information help:hug:
something to remember thou.. the level 3 criteria is so specific( very few colleges extend to level 3 as a result) the lecturer MUST be pretty nifty at nails to get you through it as it involves coloured acrylics, coloured gels. airbrushing and photographic work.. i know this as i was brought in to teach it as the " all rounders" were not capable of the delivery.. HTH..x
 
very intresting coments from a variety across the boared.
at the moment it appears there is no national standard for assesrors to a assessed against. nvq VTCT, etc all have varing standards.

This is a good question for debate , i do remember some years ago asking the same question. I believe there is some talk of standardiing all educators whehter collage or brand led, how long this will be who knows.

question ........... how can new students work out which is the right place for them, particularrly when this comes to coallages. What info could a collage provide so they make the right choose.?

Should there be insurance in place should a student need to sue for wrong info or not providing them with the skill/ knowlede to meet the need/criteria of the course?
 
something to remember thou.. the level 3 criteria is so specific( very few colleges extend to level 3 as a result) the lecturer MUST be pretty nifty at nails to get you through it as it involves coloured acrylics, coloured gels. airbrushing and photographic work.. i know this as i was brought in to teach it as the " all rounders" were not capable of the delivery.. HTH..x
intresting comments , how were u asseed ( skill) b4 they allowed you to teach? How could they sign off work as internal or external verifier if they them selves dont have the skill/knowledge?
 
Once you've been assessed by your tutor, the marked work (portfolio) is passed onto an INTERNAL VERIFIER. The IV is a member of staff in the college, usually linked to the course that you are on, but sometimes have no knowledge of the subject that is being marked. The IV remarks the work, ensuring that the assessor has marked correctly and fairly across the board. (this ensures that no favourtism has been taking place).

My portfolio was not marked or looked at in any way by an internal verifier. I know this as only 2 portfolios were inspected by the external verifier when they came in. The external verifer only asked the two people she was verifiying a coupe of things on their portfolio and she was there less than 30 mins overall. The people she was verifying could not speak out openly as the tutor stood by the side of them at all time and it was with the tutor's teaching skills and ability they had certain issues. On certain sections of my portfolio they were not even read through by my own tutor as she was busy doing her own courses she told me


Once that has been done, a few times a year an EXTERNAL VERIFIER comes into the college. they do not work for the college, have no personal links with the college, ie not a member of staff. They try and come in and mark a section of the portfolios, and if they can, come into the classroom and speak directly to some of the students.

Now, the IV and EV are really there to ensure that the ASSSESSOR has done a good job, so, it ensures that the assessor DOES do a good job as, they don't want to be questioned or grilled over their work.

Your tutor/assessor will have taken seperate qualifications to become an assessor. They are allocated a reference number. Everything they mark, they have to sign and use their personal assessor's number. It is all geared towards the fact that they are 'accountable' for everything that they do, ie come back would be enforced if their assessing wasn't up to scratch.

Tutors/assessors now have to do CPD points to ensure that they are current with modern developments.

I hope that helps in some way. I know I've left something out, but can't recall what it is.[/quote]


I know all tutors/ assessors are not the same and i feel i was just unlucky as were the other members on my course but i do think they should be properly assessed themselves. In fact my tutor had not even got the correct amount of years in the industry that was required for the job but they let that go she said. When her assessor did call in during the course term out tutor would single out someone and pick a fault. such as non use of dust brush ( at this stage non of us have been told what a dust brush was for or what to use it for ) this was pointed out to the tutor but we were told we had to keep questions to after the assessor had left . of course now in hindsight we should have said something sooner but none of us wanted to be kicked off course or to be marked down and we all felt that is what would happen.


I am sure there are manu good teachers out there but there are some very poor unsupervised ones that wil not get any better if their assessors is happy to sit and just chat socially and have a coffee rather than looking at the work together
 
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intresting comments , how were u asseed ( skill) b4 they allowed you to teach? How could they sign off work as internal or external verifier if they them selves dont have the skill/knowledge?
well i was head hunted and er I sign the work off..( i hope my skills by now are competent enough by now to do so!)i was recommended by the product company who supplies the college and i had the essential qualification NVQ 3 which i did privately with ANT.( as well as the obvious a degree in education and an assessors award!)
Not everyone can AFFORD a private education in nails and the reason i went into teaching is because i believe EVERYONE has a right to a college education by a skilled lecturer.
If any of you have ever seen the NVQ criteria for level 2 and 3 Nails - you may think differently- the work they have to acheive and the under pinning knowledge is WAYYYY more intense than any quick 3 day nail course i have ever been in.I am quite frankly hacked off about the bad REP college education receives round here espec by those who never did it themselves. I was trained privately in nails and at college for beauty( i am STILL involved with private education) If i can make a small difference in the standard of nails in the public sector then ive acheived a good goal. Ive sent out some damn good nail technicians good skills and excellent health and safety knowledge- some have even been placed in competitions...
SO yeahhhh there are GOOD nail trainers in colleges - just like there are BAD ones in the private sector....
 
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please do not tar all of teachers/tutors/assessors with the same brush just because you have had a bad experience.
 
Did you know that tutors have to have an Ofsted on them? We get assessed by people outside of the college and we are answerable to them.

The internal verifier and external verifier are both there to safeguard students from any prejudice from the tutor/assessor.

So tutors usually are trying damned hard because they have IV, EV and Ofsted to answer too.
 
well i was head hunted and er I sign the work off..( i hope my skills by now are competent enough by now to do so!)i was recommended by the product company who supplies the college and i had the essential qualification NVQ 3 which i did privately with ANT.( as well as the obvious a degree in education and an assessors award!)
Not everyone can AFFORD a private education in nails and the reason i went into teaching is because i believe EVERYONE has a right to a college education by a skilled lecturer.
If any of you have ever seen the NVQ criteria for level 2 and 3 Nails - you may think differently- the work they have to acheive and the under pinning knowledge is WAYYYY more intense than any quick 3 day nail course i have ever been in.I am quite frankly hacked off about the bad REP college education receives round here espec by those who never did it themselves. I was trained privately in nails and at college for beauty( i am STILL involved with private education) If i can make a small difference in the standard of nails in the public sector then ive acheived a good goal. Ive sent out some damn good nail technicians good skills and excellent health and safety knowledge- some have even been placed in competitions...
SO yeahhhh there are GOOD nail trainers in colleges - just like there are BAD ones in the private sector....
really pleased and proud you feel so passionatly about your eduaction role and strive clearly to produce good technicians, you are right there r good educators in private and collages as well as some bad in both sectors. How would could this be regualted, how could some one from the general public know which is a good achieveing collage who produces good students?
 
Did you know that tutors have to have an Ofsted on them? We get assessed by people outside of the college and we are answerable to them.

The internal verifier and external verifier are both there to safeguard students from any prejudice from the tutor/assessor.

So tutors usually are trying damned hard because they have IV, EV and Ofsted to answer too.
ofsted really? How could we find in fo to collages and assesments, league table like schools? Really intresting coments
 
Thank you Caroline..
I was observed today by my head of school.. i have been observed 5 times so far this year to assess my teaching skills and in certain areas my nail skills.. they really NOSE into your teaching style. He was also an OFSTED inspector ... its hilarious but so rewarding... Colleges often complain they cannot find skilled nail techs to teach so i urge you all... COME JOIN US!!!
 
we have a IV visit every 1/2 months to make sure we are all teaching correctly and also we have got inspectors from ofsted in for a couple of weeks in april to make sure we are all doing our job right!
it sounds scary but if we didnt have these people checking to make sure we are doing it right where would teaching be!

:hug:
 

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