Learner Appeals Process – Qualifications Scotland

If at any point during the qualification you are dissatisfied with the result of an assessment decision and feel that the decision is unfair. You have the right to appeal against the results of internal assessments as stated in the Learner Handbook received at induction. 

Grounds for an appeal may be: 

 

  • You have been told that you need to provide further evidence or supporting evidence, but you do not understand why. 
  • You have been asked to provide further authenticity, planning, feedback, reviews, or other documentation, but you do not understand why. 
  • You do not understand the feedback from your Coach/Trainer 
  • You disagree with an assessment result explanation, provided by your Coach/Trainer  
  • You believe the evidence in the portfolio/Assessment/Assignment shows that you have achieved the standard/criteria required. 

 

Stage One – Informal 

 

In the first instance, appeals should be handled on an informal basis by learners raising their concerns with their Coach/Trainer. 

 

Tell your Coach/Trainer. 

 

  • Why you disagree. 
  • Why you think the evidence you have put forward should cover the standards. 
  • Where the missing documentation, supporting evidence etc can be found 

 

You will also need to put this information in writing, for your appeal.  

 

The Coach/Trainer must give a clear judgement, in writing, to you within 10 working days stating justification for the decision.  

 

You must complete Stage One before you progress to Stage Two. 

 

 

Stage Two – Informal 

 

If, after Stage One you are still not satisfied, you may appeal to the Internal Quality Assurer (IQA). You will need to give the Internal Quality Assurer a copy of the appeal you gave to your Coach/Trainer at Stage One. 

 

The Internal Quality Assurer must give a clear judgement, in writing to you within 10 working days stating justification for the decision. 

 

REMEMBER, you must first follow the procedures shown in Stage One and Stage Two BEFORE going on to Stage Three. 

 

Stage Three – Formal 

 

If, after Stages One and Two, you are again still not satisfied, you must send a copy of the appeal you wrote in Stage One and Two to the Quality Manager. This time, in your written appeal, you must explain why you are unhappy with the decisions of the Internal Quality Assurer. 

 

The Quality Manager will make one of two decisions: 

 

  1. The Quality Manager will agree with the decision of the Coach/Trainer or Internal Quality Assurer and explain why to you, or 

 

  1. The Quality Manager will agree with you and explain why to your Coach/Trainer and Internal Quality Assurer. 

 

 

The Quality Manager will acknowledge the submission of the appeal within ten working days. Upon receipt of the appeal, the Quality Manager will initiate an internal review. The outcome of the appeal, including the results of any further reviews of the evidence, will be communicated to you and within 10 working days of the conclusion. 

 

The decision of the Quality Manager is Final. 

 

If learners are undertaking non-regulated qualifications (HNs, QS Advanced Certificate/Diplomas, NQs), they have no further right of appeal against internal assessment decisions. The final decision rests with Datalaw. QS will not accept internal assessment appeals. 

 

If learners are undertaking regulated qualifications, you have further routes of appeal against internal assessment results.  If you have gone through all the stages of Datalaw’s internal assessment appeals procedure and remain dissatisfied with the outcome or the way in which it was handled, you can: 

 

Appeal to Qualifications Scotland (the awarding body). 

 

Appeal to QS Accreditation, Ofqual or Qualifications Wales (as appropriate) if you feel that Datalaw and/or QS (the awarding body) has not dealt with your appeal appropriately.  

 

QS Accreditation, Ofqual or Qualifications Wales (as appropriate) cannot overturn assessment decisions or academic judgements, but may investigate the effectiveness of Datalaw’s and/or QS’s 

appeals process and implement corrective action. 

 

 

 

Staff Name 

Title 

Area of responsibility 

Email 

Sharon Parsons 

Quality Assurance  Manager 

Quality  

Sharon.parsons@datalaw.org   

Gemma Garbutt 

Head of Apprenticeships 

Delivery 

Gemma.garbutt@datalaw.org 

 

Reviewed Date  14/04/2026  Next Review Due Date  14/04/2027 
Reviewed by  Sharon Parsons 

Quality Assurance Manager 

 Signature  S E Parsons 

 

Datalaw 2025                                     Learner Appeals Process – QS – DPP023                                   V2.0 14042026