At its meeting on 23 April 2009, Academic Standards Committee received the Report of the Review of Departmental Programmes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment of the Department of Archaeology held on 30 January 2009. Following consideration by the Committee, the recommendations were forwarded for action to the relevant staff. The attached report summarises the responses and confirms the progress to date.

The report has been considered by the Convener of the Review Panel, who is satisfied that the Panel’s recommendations have been, as far as possible, given full and appropriate consideration and addressed satisfactorily and draws particular attention to the following point:

Recommendation 3 (Assessment procedures) – This recommendation arose as a result of the Review Panel learning that students had raised concerns about having assessed work returned to them when it had only been marked by the first marker, with the second marker’s grade and comments being proffered some time later. This had, on occasion, led to students receiving conflicting feedback and substantially different grades from the two markers. Students understood that such marks were provisional and subject to internal and external review and the specific concern was that it was difficult for students to improve if they received conflicting feedback. Although the Department has valid reasons for remaining of the view that it is better to return the marker’s feedback to students promptly rather than delaying it to allow for moderation, this practice is not ideal since the potential for a student to receive conflicting feedback still remains.

Academic Standards Committee is asked to:

1. consider the adequacy of the responses and the progress made;
2. note the point that the Convener had drawn attention to in relation to Recommendation 3;
3. recommend action as appropriate.

As identified in the report.

No additional resource implications have been identified.

Not applicable.

No specific implications identified.