Qualifications are changingCurriculum Update Event – Stirling Management CentreMonday 5 December
Languages
Welcome• Latest qualification information
• Meet the people who are developing the qualifications
• Opportunity to discuss curriculum planning
• Opportunity to provide feedback
• Package of publications and support
Welcome• Design of new National Qualifications
• Development of new National Qualifications
• Update on Languages
Designing the new National Qualifications
Dr John Allan, Policy ManagerScottish Qualifications Authority
What are we trying to achieve?• Clear and smooth progression from Experiences and
Outcomes and between levels of qualifications• More focus on skills development• Assessment which supports, motivates and challenges
learners • An inclusive, coherent, and easy to understand framework
of qualifications which uses hierarchical structures wherever possible
• Less prescription (especially in Unit) - more flexible evidence requirements
• High standards, credibility and relevance
Specifications, guidance and support• New ways of specifying requirements: shorter, more
open, less prescriptive
• Course Specification, Unit Specification, Course Assessment Specifications: outline the mandatory requirements
• More guidance and support, for example:
• Course and Unit Support Notes: guidance on delivering Courses and the Units, approaches to learning, teaching and assessment
• Assessment support (via NAR): eg specimen QPs, specimen coursework, unit exemplification materials
Added Value / Course Assessment • Each Course from National 4 to Advanced Higher will
include a 40 hour added value assessment
• For National 4, added value is assessed in the Added Value Unit
• For Courses at National 5 to Advanced Higher the added value assessment is in the Course assessment
• This will sample breadth, challenge and/or application of skills from across the Course
• The Course assessment at these levels will be graded A - D
• The National 4 Added Value Unit and National 5, H/AH Course Assessment will be assessed using one or more of seven agreed methods:
• Assignment• Case study• Practical activity• Performance• Portfolio• Project• Question paper/test
Added Value / Course Assessment
Controlled Assessment• SQA is introducing controlled assessment for the
National 4 Added Value Unit and course assessment at National 5, H and AH
• 3 stages of assessment, each of which will have a defined level of control:• Setting the assessment – the specification of the
requirements • Conducting the assessment – the conditions for
learners taking the assessment• Marking the assessment – who marks and how
marking is carried out and quality assured
Three levels of controlSQA will work in partnership with centres and focus on:
•SQA-led activity – SQA carries out all of the activity or provides detailed specifications
•Shared responsibility between SQA and centres – responsibility for carrying out the activity is shared between SQA and centres
•Centre-led activity – Centres have flexibility to decide how to carry out the activity, in-line with broad guidance and overall policies and procedures laid down by SQA
Quality assurance of internal assessmentFeedback from engagement:
• need for robust QA • approaches need to be developmental and foster partnership• constraints
Developing ways SQA and centres can work together to:• promote a shared understanding of national standards across
centres and sectors• build training and support into the QA process• develop partnership approach
Further engagement:• national partners and stakeholder groups• detailed work to ensure manageable and successful
implementation
Development of the new National Qualifications
Roderic Gillespie, Head of Curriculum for ExcellenceScottish Qualifications Authority
How are we developing qualifications?• Qualifications developed in a more strategic way: starts with
learning, process is iterative
• Each stage informs the next: on-going process of exploring issues/developing thinking, seeking advice/guidance and then testing proposals
• Wide range of engagement: from formal groups to Liaison Team visits to targeted activities
• Open & transparent:• draft documents published at each stage (both for information
and feedback)• stakeholders and partners involved at each stage• feedback published on website
Publication/Support Access 2 Access 3 Nat 4 / Nat 5 Higher
Draft Course Specifications Oct ‘11 Oct ‘11 Apr ‘11 Aug ‘11
Draft Unit Specifications Dec ‘11 Dec ‘11 Aug ‘11 Nov ‘11
Draft Course Assessment Specifications N/A N/A Nov ‘11 Jan ‘12
Draft Course/Unit Support Notes Apr ‘12 Apr ‘12 Jan ‘12 Feb ‘12
Course/Unit Assessment Support on NAR Apr ‘13 Apr ‘13 Apr ‘13 Apr ‘14
Subject Implementation Support Events
Session 2012/13
Session 2012/13
Session 2012/13
Session 2013/14
Publication of final document for Access 1 – Higher: April 2012Publication of final documents for Advanced Higher: April 2013
New National Qualifications: Implementation Timelines• Session 2012/13 – last diet of Standard Grade examinations
• Session 2013/14 – first diet of new qualifications (Access to N5), dual run with existing Access and Intermediates
• Session 2014/15 – first diet of new Higher, dual run with existing Access, Intermediates and Highers
• Session 2015/16 – first diet of Advanced Higher
Controlled assessment: likely patternsNational 4 Added Value Unit:• Set by centres following SQA guidance and exemplars• Conducted by centres within SQA requirements • Marked and internally verified by centres to SQA marking instructions
and externally quality assured by SQA
National 5 and Higher Course Assessment • Usually set by SQA – a few subjects set by centres - within SQA
guidelines• Conducted under a high degree or some supervision and control
within SQA requirements • Submitted to SQA for external marking – a few subjects marked by
centre staff in line with SQA marking instructions.
LanguagesKathleen McCormick, Qualification Development ManagerScottish Qualifications Authority
Languages Overview
• Modern Languages*• Modern Languages covers Cantonese, French, Gaelic (Learners), German,
Italian, Mandarin (Traditional and Simplified) and Spanish at SCQF levels 3-7 and Urdu at SCQF levels 3-6
• English
• Gàidhlig
• ESOL
• Latin
• Media
Key Points• Builds on principles and practices guidance and relevant
level 4 experiences and outcomes from languages curricular areas (and expressive arts – Media)
• Follows the design principles agreed by CfE Management Board and SQA’s Qualification Committee
• Incorporates the best features of Standard Grade and Intermediates
• Focuses more on skills development and crediting positive achievement
• Mainly hierarchical in structure
Engagement and feedback• Local Authorities, Further and Higher Education
• Subject specialists, professional associations, industry
• Learner engagement
• CARG/QDT/SWGs
• CfE Liaison Team
• Have your say
What’s different?• Languages qualifications are more skills focused
• Outcomes are broad-based leaving flexibility for combining or integrating assessment when appropriate
• Contexts and settings are relevant to learners
• Wide range of texts and contexts
Key messages• Progression • Hierarchical structure
• Added Value at National 4
• Broad contexts and themes/topics; texts
• Assessment evidence
Workshop 1: New National Qualifications
• Using the materials provided, please provide feedback on:• Progression between levels• Balance and focus of skills, knowledge and
understanding• National 4 Added Value Assessment and National 5
Course Assessment• Opportunities to meet the Aims, purposes and
principles of Curriculum for Excellence