SQA Seminar

New National Qualifications in New National Qualifications in ScotlandScotland

NPFS Conference October 2014

Dr John Allan/Michelle Sharpe

Introduction

Major qualifications developments in the past 30 years

have aimed to give us steady progress & democratisation Greater inclusion, social justice and equity for learners Greater teacher involvement, particularly in assessment Increased fairness and fitness for purpose in

assessment More choice for centres, teachers/lecturers and learners A more comprehensive and coherent system Increases in both level and number of qualifications

attained

Role of qualificationsThe new Qualifications have been design to:♦Support learning♦Support personal choice♦Support social justice and equality♦Develop subject based skills, knowledge, understanding♦Develop skills for learning, life and work♦Provide passports to further study and employment

SCQF Level

Advanced Higher

Higher

National 5

National 4

National 3

National 2

National 1

Graded A-D

Graded A-D

Graded A-D

Pass/Fail

Pass/Fail

Pass/Fail

Pass/Fail

Previous/Existing Replaced by Resulting

Advanced Higher

Higher

SG Credit/Int2

SG General/Int1

Access 3/SG Foundation

Access 2

Access 1

7

6

5

4

3

2

1

Relationship between Curriculum Relationship between Curriculum experiences and outcomes and experiences and outcomes and QualificationsQualifications

1

2

3

4

32

1

Continues to 12

≈4

Open and transparent processes

Mandatory publications Unit Specifications Course Specifications Course Assessment Specifications

Guidance and support publications Course Support Notes Unit Support Notes Specimen Question Papers Exemplar Question Papers

Skills Greater focus on skills development Skills for learning, life and work:

– Literacy – Numeracy– Skills for health and well-being– Employability, enterprise and citizenship– Thinking skills

Reflections on the first diet and beyond A successful diet Some minor changes to a few courses CPD for examiners and QA teams – start of

intensive 3 year programme CPD for teachers – focus on Advanced Higher

Work with partners (including NPFS) to make improvements/enhancements for year 2

Reduce assessment where appropriate – more holistic, integrated approaches

What to look out for in October 2014 to August 2015

Publication of Specimen Question Papers for Advanced Higher Publication of Assessment Tasks & general assessment information

for Advanced Higher coursework Publication of Advanced Higher Unit assessments Publication of Higher Exemplar Question Papers First certification of new Highers Certification of National 1 to National 5 Units and Courses Last certification of current Access, Intermediate, Higher and

Advanced Higher Courses Responses to the Wood Commission report Business as usual updating at all levels

What to look out for September 2015 to August 2016

-Publication of Exemplar Question Papers for Advanced Higher-First certification of new Advanced Higher-First all new Qualifications diet-Further responses to the Wood Commission report -Business as usual updating

Roads less well travelled Employability Steps to work Enterprise and employability Leadership Personal achievement Personal development Wellbeing Modern languages for life and work National Certificates National Progression Awards Higher National Certificate/Diploma Professional Development Awards

Keeping informed

More information

http://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/58062.html

http://www.youtube.com/user/SQAonline

MyAlerts

http://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/34808.html

Monthly email to NPFS

Questions?