1. Purpose

The purpose of this Quality Assurance Policy is to ensure that The School of Natural Therapies delivers consistently high-quality education and training in massage therapy and complementary therapies. This policy outlines the systems, standards, and processes that maintain excellence across teaching, assessment, learner support, and organisational practice.

2. Scope

This policy applies to:

All training programmes delivered by the school
All tutors and our school administrator
All learners enrolled in any regulated qualification or short/CPD course
Any internal and external quality assurance activities

3. Quality Assurance Principles

Learner-centred practice — We prioritise learner experience, wellbeing, and professional development.
Continuous improvement — We regularly review and refine our programmes, teaching methods, and administrative processes.
Transparency and accountability — We maintain clear documentation, open communication, and responsible decision-making.
Compliance with awarding bodies — We meet or exceed the standards set by relevant UK awarding organisations and regulatory bodies.
Professional integrity — We uphold ethical practice in teaching, assessment, and learner support.

4. Governance and Responsibilities

4.1 School Principal Leadership

The school’s principal, Marc Innes, alongside course directors – Joseph O’Dwyer and Helen Cameron-Lee is responsible for:

Strategic oversight of quality assurance
Ensuring compliance with awarding body requirements
Providing resources for staff development and programme improvement

4.2 Tutors and Assessors

Tutors and assessors are responsible for:

Delivering high-quality teaching aligned with curriculum standards
Providing fair, valid, and reliable assessment
Maintaining accurate learner records
Participating in standardisation and CPD activities

4.3 Learners

Learners are expected to:

Engage actively in learning
Adhere to professional and ethical standards
Provide constructive feedback to support continuous improvement

5. Programme Design and Delivery

All programmes are designed to meet industry standards and awarding body specifications.
Course content is reviewed annually to ensure relevance, accuracy, and alignment with current professional practice.
Teaching methods incorporate practical, theoretical, and reflective learning.
Tutors receive ongoing professional development and CPD enrolment to maintain subject expertise and teaching quality.

6. Assessment and Internal Verification

Assessments are conducted in accordance with awarding body guidelines.
Internal verification ensures consistency, fairness, and accuracy across all assessors.
Standardisation meetings are held regularly to maintain shared understanding of assessment criteria.
Assessment decisions are documented clearly and stored securely.

7. Learner Support and Welfare

Learners receive clear information about courses, expectations, and assessment requirements.
Support is available for learners with additional needs.
The school promotes a safe, respectful, and inclusive learning environment.
Safeguarding procedures are in place and reviewed annually.

8. Feedback and Continuous Improvement

Learner feedback is collected through learner feedback, awarding and professional association feedback, evaluations, and informal communication.
Staff feedback is gathered through meetings, reviews, and professional discussions.
Feedback is analysed and used to inform improvements in teaching, resources, and programme structure.
Action plans are created and monitored to ensure meaningful change.

9. External Quality Assurance

The school cooperates fully with external verifiers, inspectors, and awarding bodies.
Recommendations from external quality assurance activities are acted upon promptly.
Records of external reports and actions taken are maintained for audit purposes.

10. Data Management and Record Keeping

Learner data is stored securely and in compliance with GDPR.
Assessment records, verification documents, and feedback reports are retained according to awarding body requirements.
Access to sensitive information is restricted to authorised personnel.

11. Policy Review

This Quality Assurance Policy is reviewed annually by the school’s Principal, alongside course directors and administrator.
Updates are made to reflect changes in legislation, awarding body requirements, and internal developments.