General Policies

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:

Candidates must submit a Special Consideration Application Form to the Exams Officer within 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.

In cases of serious disruption during the exam, the Exams Officer must submit a detailed report of the circumstances and candidates affected to WSET. This must be returned with the completed exam papers.

France 44 Wine & Spirits Education must keep records of all applications for special consideration. Please refer to the Data Protection Policy for details on the handling of any personal data.

Reasonable Adjustments Policy

France 44 Wine & Spirits Education APP and WSET seek to assess all candidates in a way that puts them at no disadvantage, or advantage, over other students.

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 applied for by the candidate either on our booking page or via email to the Exams Officer (education@france44.com). The application is then 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 format text

Providing access facilitators during assessment, such as a sign language interpreter or reader

Re-organizing the assessment room, such as removal of visual stimuli for an autistic candidate

Applying for a reasonable adjustment

Candidate must inform France 44 Wine & Spirits of any special needs which may require a reasonable adjustment at the time of the exam by outlining the learning supports needed in the appropriate box on the booking page. This step must be done at least 5 weeks before the exam date in the case of WSET qualifications at Levels 1-3. The candidate may apply for a reasonable adjustment by filling out the Learning Support Request box on the check-out page when enrolling. The APP may reach out to the candidate upon registration for additional information to make necessary adjustments. The APP will then submit a Reasonable Adjustment Application Form to the Exams Manager at WSET and must attach supporting evidence on behalf of the candidate.

The specific arrangements for the exam process itself will be agreed in each case between France 44 Wine & Spirits Education’s Exams Officer and the WSET Exams Manager and will vary according to circumstances. France 44 Wine & Spirits Education may not offer reasonable adjustments to any candidate until this has been agreed with WSET.

France 44 Wine & Spirits Education must keep records of all applications for reasonable adjustments. Please refer to the Data Protection Policy for details on the handling of any personal data.

Conflict of Interest Policy

France 44 Wine & Spirits Education, on behalf of WSET as an approved APP, is required to identify, monitor and manage actual, potential, and perceived conflicts of interest. This is essential to safeguard the integrity of WSET qualifications and promote confidence in WSET processes. This policy applies to all APP staff, any individual acting on behalf of the APP, and all staff members affiliated with France 44 Wine & Spirits Education APP for any reason. This includes those involved in marking of assessments, delivery of WSET programs of study leading to WSET qualifications, and marketing of WSET qualifications.

Definition of Conflict of Interest

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

The undertaking of any moderation of assessment of student by an individual who has a personal interest in the result of the assessment for any or all individuals concerned;

The tutoring of students by an individual involved in the assessment process;

The undertaking of a WSET qualification by any individual employed by France 44 Wine & Spirits Education APP;

The invigilation of a WSET assessment by any individual involved in the delivery of training leading to the assessment;

The coaching of students by any individual involved in the assessment of student scripts;

The employment by France 44 Wine & Spirits Education APP of individuals engaged in the delivery of taught programs 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 an Internal Assessor is verified by WSET to mitigate the risk of a Conflict of Interest. Similarly, where an employee of the WSET or one of the staff of France 44 Wine & Spirits APP undertakes a WSET qualification, measures can be put in place to maintain the integrity of the assessment, provided this has been notified to WSET Awards in advance.

Some Conflicts of Interest cannot be managed and are not acceptable. For these circumstances, procedures for identifying and managing Conflicts of Interest are outlined below.

Identification of Conflicts of Interest

Any individual involved in the delivery of WSET qualifications who becomes aware of a Conflict of Interest must inform the Main Contact at France 44 Wine & Spirits Education (education@france44.com) in writing immediately. Conflict of Interest declarations will be recorded, kept on file, and submitted to the Quality Assurance team at WSET at QA@wsetglobal.com immediately. The declaration will then be recorded by WSET on the Conflicts of Interest Register.

Please be aware that France 44 Wine & Spirits Education may be in breach of its terms of approval with WSET if it fails to declare a Conflict of Interest, and sanctions may be applied in accordance with the Malpractice and Maladministration Policy.

Management of Conflicts of Interest

France 44 Wine & Spirits Education has procedures in place to manage specific Conflicts of Interest. Requirements include but are not limited to the following:

Only the Internal Assessor, who is verified by WSET to carry out this role, may carry out selecting exam sample wines, marking of WSET Level 3 tasting assessments, and secure delivery of all tasting assessments to the Examinations Officer

No outside tutoring of candidates by any individual involved in any assessment process

No assessor will give assessment to any candidate who identifies as a close acquaintance or relative of the staff member

No assessor who has a personal interest in the result of the assessment for any individual candidate will be allowed to give assessment to that individual

No individual employed by the APP will be allowed to undertake a WSET qualification through this APP without previous consent from QA at WSET

No individual employed by WSET will be allowed to undertake a WSET qualification through this APP without previous consent from QA at WSET

All non-compliance investigations will be conducted by impartial staff members, the QA team at WSET, or third-party mediators, if necessary

To report a conflict of interest, please refer to our Complaints and Appeals Policy to submit written documentation to France 44 Wine & Spirits Education. All reports of conflict of interest will be declared to QA at WSET at QA@wsetglobal.com. All submitted reports will remain strictly confidential.

Complaints and Appeals Policy

France 44 Wine & Spirits Education (the APP) aims to provide consistent and high-quality service to all our students, but on occasion we may fall short of meeting expectations. If complaints arise, we will do our very best to resolve the situation in a professional, fair, and timely manner.

How to make a complaint

Complainant should first contact the APP directly by submitting a written complaint to the Main Contact for France 44 Wine & Spirits Education at education@france44.com. This document should include the complainant’s name and contact information, date of the incident, details of the complaint, and what resolution the complainant is hoping for. France 44 Wine & Spirits Education guarantees full confidentiality in all matters of processing complaints. Furthermore, the APP guarantees that any complaint made will in no way prejudice the student.

Steps for resolution

A quick and amicable resolution will be sought between the complainant and the APP on an informal level. Details of the interaction and what steps were taken to resolve the conflict will be recorded and maintained in official APP records. Complaints will be processed by the APP within 5 working days from acknowledgment.

If a satisfactory resolution cannot be reached on this informal level, an official appeal can be filed by the complainant. Formal appeals should be filed with the Main Contact for France 44 Wine & Spirits Education as well as with the Human Resources manager on staff at France 44 Foods, Inc. to act as a mediator to come to a satisfactory resolution. Appeals will be processed by the APP and the Human Resources manager within 5 working days.

If a resolution cannot be reached, a formal written complaint should be submitted to the Quality Assurance Team at WSET at qa@wsetglobal.com. The document should include the complainant’s name and contact information, complaint details and any supporting documentation of the incident, and the desired outcome of the situation. Formal complaints will be processed by WSET within 20 working days from acknowledgment.

If a resolution still cannot be reached an appeal may be submitted to the Quality Assurance Team at WSET at qa@wsetglobal.com. Complainant must include the grounds of the appeal, new details and supporting information, and desired outcome of the situation. Appeals will be processed by WSET within 30 working days from acknowledgment.

Malpractice and Maladministration Policy

This policy protects the interest of WSET students and safeguards the integrity of WSET qualifications by ensuring compliance with the Policies and Procedures of both France 44 Wine & Spirits Education and WSET. It provides a framework for the identification, reporting, and management of any potential malpractice or maladministration and for the application of sanctions to France 44 Wine & Spirits Education (the APP) or any students registered with the APP.

France 44 Wine & Spirits Education will ensure that our procedure for the delivery and administration of any WSET qualification complies with all areas of the rules, regulations, and procedures set out in the WSET APP Handbook. Any student registered at France 44 Wine & Spirits Education must also comply with these rules, regulations, and procedures. Failure to abide by these criteria will be considered Malpractice and/or Maladministration and may affect our ability to continue teaching WSET qualifications.

Malpractice or maladministration by a student may include but is not limited to:

Failure to adhere to France 44 Wine & Spirits Education’s Code of Conduct
Failure to comply with official WSET Policies and Procedures
Actual or attempted plagiarism, or cheating, of any nature by candidates
Use or attempted use of any reference material or electronic device during a closed book examination
Disruptive behavior by candidates in the examination
Candidates in breach of published Examination Regulations

Malpractice or maladministration by an APP may include but is not limited to:

APP in breach of invigilation rules or the Code of Conduct
Late student registrations
Failure to adhere to WSET’s candidate registration and certification procedures
Fraudulent use of WSET certificates
Unauthorized amendment, reading, copying, or distribution of examination papers
Withholding crucial information from WSET pertaining to the maintenance of quality assurance
Insecure storage of examination papers
Breach of candidate confidentiality
Failure to disclose a Conflict of Interest
Submission of false or inaccurate information to gain a qualification
Denial of access to students of resources, information, documentation, staff, or facilities
Failure to report changes in ownership/staff members/location/facilities
Failure to respond to WSET in a timely manner
Failure to return exam papers within the specified timeframe or to follow delivery and tracking information
Infringement of WSET copyright, trademarks, intellectual property rights, or brand identity
Use of unqualified and/or unregistered educators or internal assessors
Misleading advertising/publicity

Procedure for reporting suspected malpractice or maladministration

Anyone who identifies or is made aware of suspected or actual cases of malpractice or maladministration must immediately notify the Main Contact at France 44 Wine & Spirits Education (education@france44.com). The notification should be in writing/email and must include appropriate supporting evidence.

All reports must include:

Candidate’s name (if applicable)
France 44 Wine & Spirits Education’s staff member(s)’ name and role (if applicable)
Nature of suspected or actual malpractice/maladministration and associated dates and details

Please refer to France 44 Wine & Spirits Education’s Complaints & Appeals Policy for further actionable steps. France 44 Wine & Spirits Education guarantees full confidentiality throughout the investigation process of any report.

Procedure for addressing reports of suspected malpractice/maladministration

France 44 Wine & Spirits Education will treat all allegations or reports of suspected malpractice and/or maladministration seriously and will conduct a full investigation into all allegations. France 44 Wine & Spirits Education will report any potential case of Malpractice or Maladministration by students, educators, invigilators, or other staff members to the Quality Assurance team at WSET immediately using the proper channels and forms. France 44 Wine & Spirits Education will keep records of all allegations of suspected or actual cases of malpractice or maladministration. France 44 Wine & Spirits Education will cooperate fully with all investigations, whether internal or conducted by a WSET Officer. Following an investigation by WSET, it may be necessary to apply sanctions against a candidate, educator, invigilator, or APP. Any candidate, educator, invigilator, or APP has the right to appeal any decision made against them as detailed in the WSET Policies and Procedures section. France 44 Wine & Spirits Education will provide more information upon request regarding any appeals.

Potential sanctions against a candidate include:

Written warning or action plan
Exam results declared null and void or recall of an already-issued certificate
Disqualification from a certain qualification
Disqualification from any course or assessment leading to WSET qualifications

Potential sanctions against an APP include:

Written warning or action plan
Financial penalties
Training/re-training of educators, invigilators, or other staff members
Suspension of candidate registrations
Invalidation of results/suspension of certification
Suspension/withdrawal of approval to run specific WSET qualifications

Privacy & Data Protection

WEBSITE PRIVACY & SECURITY POLICY

France 44 respects your privacy and we comply with our obligations under the Data Protection Acts, 1988 and 2003. The purpose of this Privacy Policy is to outline how we deal with any personal data you provide to us while visiting our website. By visiting this website, you are accepting the terms of this Privacy Policy. Any external links to other websites are clearly identifiable as such, and we are not responsible for the content or the privacy policies of these other sites.

WHAT DO WE USE YOUR INFORMATION FOR?

Your information, whether public or private, will not be sold, exchanged, transferred, or given to any other company for any reason whatsoever, without your consent, other than for the express purpose of delivering the purchased product or service requested.

DO WE USE COOKIES?

Yes. We use cookies to understand and save your preferences for future visits and compile aggregate data about site traffic and site interaction so that we can offer better site experiences and tools in the future.

DO WE DISCLOSE ANY INFORMATION TO OUTSIDE PARTIES?

We do not sell, trade, or otherwise transfer to outside parties your personally identifiable information. This does not include trusted third parties who assist us in operating our website, conducting our business, or servicing you, so long as those parties agree to keep this information confidential. We may also release your information when we believe release is appropriate to comply with the law, enforce our site policies, or protect ours or others' rights, property, or safety. However, non–personally identifiable visitor information may be provided to other parties for marketing, advertising, or other uses.

PAYMENT METHOD

We accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express.

ONLINE PRIVACY POLICY ONLY

This online privacy policy applies only to information collected through our website and not to information collected offline.

CHANGES TO OUR PRIVACY POLICY

If we decide to change our privacy policy, we will post those changes on this page.

CONTACTING US

If there are any questions regarding this privacy policy, you may contact us at education@france44.com