Failing an assessment after reasonable adjustment

At times, even with reasonable adjustments in place, an individual may not be able to demonstrate the required competence standard or learning outcome. In such a case, they would not pass the assessment.

Documentation should be ongoing throughout the placement, and the student should be made aware of potential implications before the final assessment.

The implications of failing to demonstrate the required competence standard or learning outcome should be discussed as soon as possible with the student and the educational institution tutor to determine the next course of action.

Regardless of outcome, debriefing after a placement where reasonable adjustments have been implemented promotes learning and insight that can be applied to future placements.

Documenting the process

As with any situation where a student does not meet a competency standard or learning outcome, it is important to keep a record of any decision-making process and the reasons for any decisions made. By keeping a record of this information, you will be able to provide clarity of the decision process.

Your organisation or the student's education institution may already have procedures in place to do this. If not, the examples of documentation shared in Reasonable adjustment plans for assessments can assist with this.

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You may find it useful to access the Public Services Delivery Scotland (PSD Scotland) resource Supporting an underperforming student.

Failing an assessment after reasonable adjustment