The actions of a college assessor who allegedly falsified students’ paperwork could have had a “serious affect” on an education institution a hearing heard today.
Rowan Mary Clark realised some students had not finished their courses, completed tests for them, signed their names, uploaded “model answers” and then tried to get it past internal verification, said presenting officer Peter Clark at an Education Workforce Council (ECW) hearing in Ewloe.
Other staff had to step in and help students complete the missing course work, the hearing heard.
She was working for Grwp Llandrillo Menai based in Bangor, but college chiefs said she resigned in November 2017.
Summarising the evidence, Mr Clark claimed her actions were “dishonest” and constituted “unacceptable professional behaviour.”
Her actions “within the work place had an effect on learners and staff and could have had a serious affect on the college as a whole,” said Mr Llewelyn.
Ms Rowan was an experienced assessor and team leader for catering and hospitality at the time, who had worked for the college for about 25 years.
She faced allegations that between about November 6 and 8 2017, she uploaded “model answers” to a number of student portfolios on a level 3 cookery diploma, to show they had completed the unit, when it wasn’t their work.
It was also alleged between about November 1 and 7 2017, she completed test papers for learners, claiming they had done them; and around November 10 that year, requested certificates for four students, although they had not completed one of the course units and the work had not been internally verified.
Today Anwen Jones an NVQ assessor who worked under Ms Clark told the hearing she was contacted by her to say she had forgotten to complete a course unit, but would get it done.
When Ms Jones checked, she found eight learners had not finished the unit.
She also discovered four students had identical revision question answers and was concerned Ms Clark was requesting certificates, even though they had not been checked internally.
A student, called learner H to protect his identity, said he had received a certificate and thought he had completed the course only to be told by the college, it wasn’t finished.
He was shown a paper with his name on but told the inquiry “it was not my hand writing or my test paper.”
The student later completed the course with the help of another staff member, Bethan Wyn.
Previously the hearing heard Ms Rowan had struggled with a recent change from a paper to an electronic portfolio system.
“Model answers” should have only been used as guide for assessors to mark students, it was told.
The hearing was adjourned until tomorrow when the ECW panel are expected to return their findings.
