Fine Wines Direct UK -Terms & Conditions

BOOKING A COURSE:

1.  Full payment must accompany the booking via our website; we do not accept provisional bookings and places will be confirmed once payment is received.
2.  By booking a course via our website you agree to the student declaration on the product description.
3.  Cancellations of confirmed places are accepted up to 14 working days prior to the start of the course.  An administration fee of 25 pounds + the full cost of the study materials supplied will be deducted and the remainder of the course fee refunded to the payee.
4.  Transfers of a confirmed booking either to another course or applicant can be made up to 14 working days before the course start date on payment of a £25 administration fee + the cost of any additional study materials which may be applicable.  Transfers cannot be carried forward to the next academic year.
5.  If a confirmed course booking is cancelled during the 14 working days prior to the start of the course, or at any time after the start of the course, no refund or transfer of the course fees will be made.
6.  Examination dates are fixed to the course onto which you book and any transfer to an alternative date will incur an administration fee of 25 pounds.  All transfer requests must be made in writing or by email (Emilio@finewinesdirectuk.com) at least 14 working days before the original examination date.
7.  Course fees will be refunded in full if Fine Wines Direct UK changes a course date or cancels a course if enrolments do not reach the required minimum numbers; notification will be made in the 14 working days prior to the planned start date of the course.
8.  Please note all transfers are subject to availability on alternative course/examination dates.
9. Failure to attend booked examinations will result in the student being liable to subsequent examination fees.  Resit examinations are not included in the fee.

9.1 Resit examination fees are as follows:

Level 1 Wines – £55.00

Level 2 Wines – £75.00

Level 3 Wines – £69.00 Theory

Level 3 Wines – £32.00 Tasting

10. Students requiring special examination conditions must submit their request before starting the course.  Such requests must be supported by a Doctor’s certificate or similar document.
11. I understand that I am required to present authorised photographic identification at all examinations and may be refused entry to an examination if not produced.
12. Your details may be used by us to keep you informed of the course on which you have registered.  We never pass our customer’s details to other parties.  We send information by email, so please ensure you have entered your email address.
13. By booking a course, you consent to sharing your relevant data with the WSET for the purposes of the WSET examining and awarding qualifications and making associated communications.
14. If you are booking an Online course, please ensure you read the policies specific to the course.

Data and Privacy Policy

Fine Wines Direct UK asks for personal data to be collected for purpose of registering the individual with the WSET and examinations such as full name, email and date of birth.

Data shared will be handled by WSET will be in line with WSET data policies.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Policy

Fine Wines Direct UK is committed to developing its inclusive and diverse culture, where everyone feels valued and respected. Fine Wines Direct UK considers and upholds the principles of diversity and equality in all areas of work, seeking to ensure that all candidates, team members, and other stakeholders are always treated fairly and equally.

Fine Wines Direct UK assures equality of opportunity for candidates by:

• Promoting unrestricted access to WSET qualifications (while observing relevant local legislation including the legal minimum age for the retail purchase of alcohol and assessment competence standards)
• Ensuring that the WSET materials we use and other inhouse materials we use do not discriminate unlawfully against anyone on the grounds of disability, age, marriage and civil partnership, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation or any other protected characteristic (as defined in the UK Equality Act 2010) .
• Allowing candidates with special educational needs, disabilities, or temporary injuries to access WSET exams without changing the demands of the assessment in line with Fine Wines Direct UK Reasonable Adjustment and Special Consideration Policies
• Ensuring that Fine Wines Direct UK considers this policy when developing new qualifications and other projects.
• Collating and monitoring data on candidate age, gender, ethnicity and access arrangements and reporting in a non-attributable format for monitoring purposes.
• Inviting feedback on diversity issues.

Should an individual feel they may have been unfairly discriminated against by Fine Wines Direct UK initially should raise their concern with their Emilio Dos Santos. Any candidate or stakeholder who has a concern that actions of an individual connected to the delivery of WSET qualifications is against the Fine Wines Direct UK code of conduct can report their concern to governance@wsetglobal.com.

 

 

Conflict of Interest Policy

As an Approved Programme Provider (APP) of WSET, Fine Wines Direct UK is required to identify to WSET and assist in the managing or monitoring of actual, potential, and perceived conflicts of interest (‘Conflicts of Interest’) involving both APP staff and students. This policy complements WSET’s conflicts of interest policy and works to safeguard the integrity of WSET qualifications and promote confidence in WSET and Fine Wines Direct UK processes and procedures.

This policy applies to all Fine Wines Direct UK staff and students and to any individual acting on behalf of Fine Wines Direct UK.

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

Examples of Conflicts of Interest include:

• The assessment of candidates by an individual who has a personal interest in the result of the assessment for any or all individuals concerned.
• The moderation of assessment of candidates by an individual who has a personal interest in the result of the assessment for any or all individuals concerned
• The undertaking of a WSET qualification by any individual employed by an APP
• 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.
• The employment by an APP 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 are manageable and therefore acceptable. For example, if a family member of one of Fine Wines Direct UK’s educators or APP staff takes a qualification and exam through Fine Wines Direct UK or when an employee of Fine Wines Direct UK , or of the WSET, takes a WSET qualification through Fine Wines Direct UK, Fine Wines Direct UK must notify WSET in advance and then work with WSET to put in place measures to maintain the integrity of the exam.

Some Conflicts of Interest are not manageable and are not acceptable. For example, no mitigation efforts can overcome the conflict created when a single individual serves as the educator and exam officer of an exam for a family member where an external invigilator is not available.

Any staff member or student of Fine Wines Direct UK who becomes aware of a Conflict of Interest must inform Emilio Dos Santos, 073000889039 as soon as possible. Emilio Dos Santos will inform the WSET of the possible conflict of interest and will work with WSET to put any protective or mitigating measures in place to manage the conflict on a case by case basis.

If WSET and Fine Wines Direct UK decide that the conflict is not manageable, Emilio Dos Santos will inform any impacted APP staff or students.

Please note that the failure to declare a conflict of interest may have consequences for the student or Fine Wines Direct UK because it is required to report such conflicts to WSET.

Reasonable Adjustments Policy

Both WSET and Fine Wines Direct UK want to make WSET assessments accessible for all students, so none are at an advantage or disadvantage based on a disability or differing ability. This policy and the reasonable adjustment process allows Fine Wines Direct UK to work with each student before an assessment, gather the information needed to submit a request to WSET, and work with WSET to make arrangements that give students equitable access to WSET qualifications.

A reasonable adjustment is any accommodation or arrangement that helps to reduce the effect of a known disability or difficulty that substantially disadvantages a student’s assessment. The use of a reasonable adjustment does not impact WSET’s marking or the result of the candidate’s exam. The goal of reasonable adjustments is to equalise access for candidates – they must not give unfair advantage to candidates receiving the adjustment or affect the reliability and validity of the assessment outcomes as detailed in the applicable Specification. WSET cannot agree to reasonable adjustments where the candidate’s particular difficulty directly affects performance necessary to complete the assessment outcomes (e.g., if a student cannot taste for a Level 3 Exam where tasting is necessary).

Examples of reasonable adjustments include:

• 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
• Reorganising the assessment room, such as removal of visual stimuli for an autistic candidate

Fine Wines Direct UK will gather the information needed from students to submit a Reasonable Adjustments. Application form to WSET. WSET must approve and arrange reasonable adjustments before the assessment activity takes place. Before completing enrolment, Fine Wines Direct UK will give all students access to this policy and the chance to identify any special needs that could require a reasonable adjustment. If a student identifies a special need, Fine Wines Direct UK will give the student the Reasonable. Adjustment Application form as soon as possible and work with the student to gather the necessary information.

 

For any student seeking a reasonable adjustment, please contact Emilio Dos Santos, 07300889039 with:

• Full name
• Contact information
• Description of the special need, disability, or differing ability that requires an adjustment
• Supporting documentation

Students must submit this information at least 30 days before the exam date for Level 1-2 qualifications and at least 45 days before the exam date for Level 4 Diploma. The information students submit will be shared with WSET and will be handled under WSET’s Privacy and Data Protection Policy.

Fine Wines Direct UK will keep records of all reasonable adjustment applications.

Special Consideration Policy

Special consideration is any adjustment given to a student who has temporarily experienced an illness or injury, or other event outside of their control at the time of the exam, that significantly affects their ability to take the exam or their ability to show their knowledge and understanding in the assessment. Special consideration is only for things that happen immediately before or during an exam that have a material impact on the student’s ability to take the exam or on their performance. To be eligible for special consideration, students must have completed the whole course and would have been fully prepared if not for temporary illness, injury, or another uncontrollable event. A special consideration may be for an individual (e.g. a student becomes ill on the day of the exam) or a group of students (e.g. an exam is interrupted by a natural disaster).

Students may be eligible for special consideration if:

• Their performance on the exam is adversely affected by an event outside of their control. This may include temporary illness, temporary injury, bereavement, or exam room conditions.
• Reasonable adjustments which were agreed to in advance of the exam proved to be inappropriate or inadequate
• The application of special consideration would not make a passing result and certificate misleading about the student’s ability to satisfy the qualification’s assessment criteria

Applying for special consideration

If at student has taken an exam, or their exam is quickly approaching, and they feel that they have a temporary injury or illness, or other uncontrollable event that has interfered with their ability to complete the exam, they should please contact Emilio Dos Santos, 07300889039 as soon as possible.

Fine Wines Direct UK will provide them with a Special Consideration Application Form, which must be completed and returned with supporting documentation within 4 days after the effected exam. The information a student submits will be shared with WSET and will be handled under WSET’s Privacy and Data Protection Policy.

If there has been a serious disruption during an exam affecting a group of students, Fine Wines Direct UK will submit a detailed report of the circumstances and candidates affected to WSET to request special consideration.

 

 

 

 

 

Malpractice and Maladministration Policy

Fine Wines Direct UK will keep records of all applications for special consideration. Both Fine Wines Direct UK and WSET have policies and procedures in place to protect WSET students and safeguard the integrity of WSET qualifications. Fine Wines Direct UK ensures compliance with Fine Wines Direct UK and WSET’s policies through this Malpractice and Maladministration Policy, which gives a framework for both Fine Wines Direct UK and students to identify, report, and manage potential malpractice or maladministration.

Non-compliance with Fine Wines Direct UK or WSET Policies and Procedures can fall into two distinct, but related, categories:

1. Maladministration, where the non-compliance is generally unintentional, or the result of mistakes, carelessness, inexperience, or poor processes
2. Malpractice, where the non-compliance is intentional or the result of a negligent or reckless action without consideration of the consequences of the action

Context is important, and the line between maladministration or malpractice is not always clear. For example, maladministration incidents may become malpractice (e.g. if a party fails to implement corrective measures, repeats the same or a similar incident, or attempts to misrepresent or hide information during an investigation), or there may be mitigating factors that turn potential malpractice into maladministration. Though malpractice and maladministration are distinct concepts, they can shade into one another. Malpractice and maladministration are always case, context, and fact specific. Both APPs and students can commit malpractice and maladministration.

There are many ways that malpractice or maladministration could occur, including new ways which WSET and Fine Wines Direct UK have not yet seen. Some examples of malpractice or maladministration include:

For APPs:

 Failure to adhere to WSET Policies and Procedures

 Failure to follow WSET requirements for course delivery or exam regulations

 Failure to follow WSET’s candidate registration and certification procedures

 Use of unqualified and/or unregistered educators or internal assessors

 Failure to disclose a Conflict of Interest

For students:

 Cheating, or facilitating 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

 Any action likely to lead to an adverse effect

 Breach of confidentiality

In general, Fine Wines Direct UK also expects that both Fine Wines Direct UK staff and students will treat others and be treated professionally and respectfully at all times. Fine Wines Direct UK will treat inappropriate behaviour, including verbal or physical abuse, persistent or unrealistic demands, or threats that cause stress to staff, as misconduct and may report such student misconduct to WSET as necessary.

Reporting and Investigation of Malpractice or Maladministration

As an APP, Fine Wines Direct UK aims to ensure compliance with WSET Policies and Fine Wines Direct UK policies and will keep records of potential or actual malpractice or maladministration by students or staff.

Fine Wines Direct UK is required to notify WSET at once of any non-compliance issues that could be malpractice or maladministration, so that WSET can investigate the non-compliance under their own Malpractice and Maladministration Policy.

Fine Wines Direct UK asks that students also raise any concerns or non-compliance issues that may be malpractice or maladministration with Fine Wines Direct UK as soon as possible by following the process outlined in the Fine Wines Direct UK Complaints policy.

During WSET’s investigation, they may reach out to Fine Wines Direct UK or to students directly to request further information or conduct an interview. Please respond to any requests promptly and honestly.

Managing Non-Compliance

If WSET identifies malpractice or maladministration, they will consider its impact and may apply sanctions. WSET will take all reasonable steps to ensure the sanctions do not disadvantage uninvolved students affected by malpractice or maladministration. However, in some cases, they may need to disallow or withhold results and/or certificates.

Potential sanctions may include.

• Written warnings
• Action Plan
• Use of independent assessors/invigilators
• Suspension or withdraw of APP status

 

WSET will consider all relevant information on a case-by-case basis, balancing the facts with potential or actual effects, and against the seriousness of the sanctions against those effects. WSET records all malpractice and maladministration incidents for both APPs and students. If WSET determines that a student has committed malpractice or maladministration, they may apply one or more of the following sanctions.

 

Sanctions Applicable to Students/Candidates

Written Warning

The student is issued with a written warning that if the offence is repeated within a set period of time, then further specified sanctions will be applied.

Exam Result Declared Null and Void

A student’s exam result is disallowed; this may include invalidation and recall of a certificate already issued.

Disqualification from a Qualification

The student is disqualified from taking part in the concerned qualification with immediate effect and excluded from any further WSET qualifications for 12 months; this includes access to WSET materials.

Student Disqualification

The student is disqualified from taking part in any courses or assessments leading to WSET qualifications; this includes access to WSET materials.

Disqualification from use of WSET certified logos and postnominals

Actions bringing WSET into disrepute may result in the student or graduate being barred from use of WSET postnominals and WSET certified logos.

Appeals

When a student wishes to appeal penalties or sanctions which WSET has imposed due to Malpractice or Maladministration, they should please follow the procedures laid out in WSET’s Complaints Policy.