Sanctions policy

Introduction

Royal Horticultural Society (the Awarding Organisation) has a range of sanctions that it may apply to a Centre in order to:

• Ensure that it is able to comply with the current version of the General Conditions of Recognition
• Prevent or minimise the risk of occurrence of an adverse effect
• Protect the integrity and reputation of the qualification(s) and the Awarding Organisation

Sanctions may be applied for the following occurrences:

• Where a centre or provider of programmes which lead to RHS Qualifications is in breach of the undertakings given in the Approved Centre Agreement
• Where a Centre or provider of programmes which lead to RHS Qualifications is found to have committed an act of malpractice or maladministration following an investigation. (More details can be found in the ‘Centre Investigation Policy’ and the ‘Malpractice & Maladministration Procedures’)

The imposition of sanctions will be considered on a case-by-case basis, and any sanctions imposed will be commensurate with the seriousness of the breach.

Range of sanctions available

The following are the range of sanctions which may be applied to an Approved Centre or Approved Centre staff:
 

• Written warning to the Head of Centre advising of the breach and the corrective action to be taken
• Requirement for an individual within a centre or provider of programmes which lead to RHS Qualifications to undergo additional training with regard to involvement in unit or qualification delivery
• Imposition of restrictions on an individual within a centre or provider of programmes which lead to RHS Qualifications with regard to involvement in unit or qualification delivery
• Requirement for an action plan to correct the deficiencies identified and for future review
• Additional monitoring and inspection, for example additional external verification visits by the Awarding Organisation
• Suspension of registration of learners for particular programmes of learning that lead to RHS Qualifications, units or qualifications
• Requirement for certification requests to be additionally authorised by an external verifier
• Deployment of independent invigilators
• Withdrawal of centre approval or provider of programmes which lead to RHS Qualifications for delivery or assessment of specific units or qualifications (this will be done in accordance with the RHS Policy on centre withdrawal from qualification delivery)
• Withdrawal of centre approval or provider of programmes which lead to RHS Qualifications (this will be done in accordance with the RHS Policy on centre withdrawal from qualification delivery)

Where additional monitoring or verification visits are required or where it is necessary to deploy independent invigilators, this will be at the centre’s or provider of programmes which lead to RHS Qualifications’ expense. The Awarding Organisation undertakes to mitigate its costs.

Appeals

Heads of Centre or provider of programmes which lead to RHS Qualifications have the right to appeal against any sanctions imposed. Information is contained within the RHS Qualifications Appeals Procedure.