TSWS Policy

WSET Awards-  Diversity and Equality

Diversity and inclusion are at the heart of our business. They are central to our mission to provide accessible best-in-class education and qualifications to inspire and empower the world’s wine and spirits professionals and enthusiasts.

Toronto School of Wine is committed to the prevention of discrimination, harassment and violence by providing a learning environment in which all individuals are treated with mutual respect.

As one of WSET’s Approved Program Providers, TSWS is required, as part of our Code of Conduct, to ensure that all students have open access to WSET qualifications and are treated fairly and without bias or prejudice.

• We will facilitate candidates with special educational needs, disabilities or temporary injuries access to our qualifications.

• We offer a full range of online courses, making our qualifications accessible to students with disabilities or who live in remote areas.
• We ensure that students who do not consume alcohol for personal reasons (e.g. religious belief or health requirements) are not disadvantaged and are able to take our Level 1 and 2 qualifications.

Candidates who have further questions about the policy or who are believe they may have been unfairly discriminated against by an APP should raise this with the APP concerned in the first instance.

The main contact is :

Anna Jarosz- Managing Director of TSWS

bookings@tsws-wine.com

Complaints policy for WSET qualifications

TSWS aims to provide a consistently excellent level of service to our students. We believe we achieve

this most of the time: if we are not getting it right, please let us know.

Students/candidates wishing to raise dissatisfaction about services provided by TSWS must address their concern directly with TSWS within 14 days of relating to WSET academic and non-academic issues.

To raise a complaint or concern please contact:

Anna Jarosz- Managing Director of TSWS

bookings@tsws-wine.com

We will issue the response within 20 days but sometimes it might take a bit longer.

Formal complaints via email should include:

• Complainant’s name, address and contact information
• Details of the complaint i.e. what is the cause for dissatisfaction
• All supporting information i.e. relevant documentation, dates, locations, any witnesses
• Details of any previous attempts to resolve the concern
• What outcome you hope to achieve

Further process:

Student will receive a written reply, that might include:

• explanation of the situation to make sure that the student understands the situation and no longer has any concerns regarding the situation,
• a written apology
• a solution to the situation agreed between TSWS and the student

If the complainant is dissatisfied with the outcome of the complaint and has exhausted TSWS’ full complaints and appeals policy, then they may submit a formal complaint to WSET’s Quality Assurance Team at qa@wsetglobal.com.

If a candidate does submit a formal complaint, Quality Assurance Team will advise of their terms and conditions for interaction (after vetting that the complainant has exhausted the APP’s full Complaint and Appeals procedure).

Reasonable Adjustments Policy

TSWS seeks to ensure that all candidates are assessed in a way that puts them at no disadvantage, or advantage, over other candidates.

A reasonable adjustment is any action that helps to reduce the effect of a disability or difficulty that places the candidate at a substantial disadvantage in the assessment situation. Reasonable adjustments are approved by WSET and put in place before the assessment activity takes place; they constitute an arrangement to give the candidate access to the qualification. The use of a reasonable adjustment is not taken into consideration during the assessment of a candidate’s work.

Reasonable adjustments must not give unfair advantage over candidates for whom reasonable adjustments are not being made or affect the reliability and validity of the assessment outcomes as detailed in the applicable Specification.

Reasonable adjustments may involve:

• Changing standard assessment arrangements, for example allowing candidates extra time to complete the assessment activity;
• Adapting assessment materials, such as providing materials in large text format;
• Providing access facilitators during assessment, such as a sign language interpreter or reader;
• Re-organising the assessment room, such as removal of visual stimuli for an autistic candidate.

Applying for a reasonable adjustment

Candidates must declare any special needs which may require a reasonable adjustment during the exam at the time of enrolment .

Candidates must submit the application form and supporting documentation to TSWS at least six weeks prior to the exam.  TSWS will then submit the application form and supporting documentation to WSET.

TSWS will submit a Reasonable Adjustment Application Form to the Exams Manager at least 6 weeks before the exam date in the case of WSET qualifications at Levels 1-3 . This must attach supporting evidence.

All information will be submitted to WSET by TSWS. WSET will handle it according to their data privacy policy- link below:

https://www.wsetglobal.com/privacy-and-cookie-policy/#dataprivacypolicy

Candidates and their advisors should be aware that it is not appropriate to make requests for reasonable adjustments where the candidate’s particular difficulty directly affects performance in the attributes that are the focus of the assessment.

TSWS will keep records of all reasonable adjustment applications.

Special Consideration Policy

Special consideration is an action taken after an assessment to allow candidates who have been disadvantaged by temporary illness, injury, indisposition or adverse circumstances at the time of the assessment to demonstrate attainment.

Special consideration will not give unfair advantage over candidates for whom special consideration is not being applied or alter the assessment demands of the qualification as detailed in the applicable Specification.

A candidate may be eligible for special consideration if:

• Performance in an assessment is affected by circumstances beyond the control of the candidate. This

may include recent personal illness, accident, bereavement or exam room conditions;

• Alternative assessment arrangements which were agreed in advance of the assessment proved

inappropriate or inadequate;

• The application of special consideration would not mislead the user of the certificate as to the

candidate’s attainment.

Applying for special consideration

Please submit a Special Consideration Application Form not later than 4 working days after the assessment date for which special consideration is being sought. Eligibility will only be considered if accompanied by supporting independent documentation. All information will be submitted to WSET by TSWS. WSET will handle it according to their data privacy policy- link below:

https://www.wsetglobal.com/privacy-and-cookie-policy/#dataprivacypolicy.

Conflict of Interest Policy

Definition of Conflict of Interest

A Conflict of Interest exists where an individual has interests or loyalties that could adversely influence their judgement, objectivity or loyalty to TSWS when conducting activities associated with WSET qualifications.

Examples of Conflicts of Interest include:

• The undertaking of any assessment of candidates by an individual who has a personal interest in the

result of the assessment for any or all individuals concerned;

• The tutoring of candidates by an individual involved in the assessment process;
• The undertaking of a WSET qualification by any individual employed by TSWS;
• The undertaking of a WSET qualification by any individual employed by WSET;
• The invigilation of a WSET assessment by any individual involved in the delivery of training leading to

the assessment;

• The coaching of candidates by any individual involved in the assessment of candidate scripts or the

authoring of exam questions;

• The employment by TSWS of individuals engaged in the delivery of taught programmes or in the role of Internal Assessor in another APP;
• The investigation of a non-compliance incident by someone who is unable to act impartially.

Some of these Conflicts of Interest can be managed and are therefore acceptable. For example, the marking of WSET Level 3 tasting assessments by Internal Assessors is verified by WSET to mitigate the risk of a Conflict of Interest. Similarly, where an employee of the WSET or one of its APPs undertakes a WSET qualification, measures can be put in place to maintain the integrity of the assessment, provided this has been notified to WSET in advance.

Identification of Conflicts of Interest

TSWS will declare and inform the Head of Quality Assurance (HQA) in writing immediately if aware of a Conflict of Interest. To report conflict of interest please contact

Anna Jarosz- Managing Director of TSWS

bookings@tsws-wine.com

Malpractice and Maladministration Policy

TSWS protects the interests of WSET students and safeguard the integrity of WSET qualifications by ensuring compliance with WSET’s Policies and Procedures. It provides a framework for the identification, reporting and management of any potential malpractice or maladministration and for the application of sanctions.

Malpractice – where non-compliance is accidental rather than intentional

Malpractice- where non-compliance is intentional or the result of negligence

Malpractice or maladministration that apply to staff may:

• Failure to adhere to the terms of Centre Agreement or WSET Policies and Procedures;
• Failure to comply with the APP Code of Conduct;
• Failure to carry out course or assessment delivery in accordance with WSET requirements;
• Failure to adhere to WSET’s candidate registration and certification procedures;
• Late student registrations;
• Fraudulent claim for certificates/fraudulent use of certificates/reproduction or forgery of certificates;
• Withholding of information from WSET which is critical to maintaining the rigour of quality assurance;
• Insecure storage of assessment materials;

Possible sanctions that may apply to staff:

• Penalty fees
• Suspension of ordering powers
• Training
• Action plan
• Re-approval visits
• Use of Independent Verifiers/Observers/Assessors/Invigilators

Malpractice or maladministration that apply to students may include:

• Submission of false or inaccurate information to gain a qualification;
• Cheating, including the use of unauthorised devices or materials;
• Disruptive behaviour in an exam;
• Plagiarism of any nature by students;
• Impersonation (including forgery of signatures);
• Unauthorised reading/amendment/copying/distribution of exam papers;

Possible sanctions that may apply to students:

• Written warning
• Exam Result Declared Null and Void
• Disqualification from a Qualification
• Student Disqualification
• Disqualification from use of WSET certified logos and postnominals

TSWS will report all suspected instances to WSET and cooperative in WSET’s investigation.

To report a potential instance of malpractice or maladministration please contact :

Anna Jarosz- Managing Director of TSWS

bookings@tsws-wine.com

Please include in your email:

• Your name, address and contact information
• Details of the incident
• All supporting information i.e. relevant documentation, dates, locations, any witnesses

WSET’s current policy indicates that our investigation may take 30 days.