In the centres sampled – ♦ Assessment instruments were appropriate

♦ There was sufficient evidence

♦ Judgement of candidate evidence was appropriate

♦ Centres were well aware of the National Standards and of the appropriate Assessment Strategies relating to these awards

♦ Assessment decisions were valid and reliable

♦ Candidate evidence was well presented and well assessed

Very good “Evidence Tracking Sheets” for every unit, showing evidence tracked against PIs and K and U.  Evidence within the Portfolios was clearly structured with good cross-referencing from the Optional Units into the Core Units. Good balance between Performance Evidence and Supporting Evidence with good use of storyboards/personal statements to place the evidence in context – good annotation of evidence.  

The Assessment Guidance developed by SQA has helped centres gain an accurate understanding of the National Standards.

Members of staff within centres attended the SQA Launch Events on the New Standards. These events provided information and guidance on the new standards and delegates cascaded this to the rest of the team. 

All assessors had appropriate qualifications and experience – either D32/33 or A1. New assessors were working towards A1. Excellent evidence available that assessors take part in standardisation meetings.  

Very good Observation Reports – marking PIs and K and U covered as well as cross-referencing to the Core Units.  

There was good clear evidence of assessment planning.

There were clear stages of planning, assessing, review and feedback.

Candidate feedback indicated that they were very well supported by assessors.  

Excellent evidence of IV procedures being applied appropriately – robust IV procedures in place.  Evidence of prompt, accurate and helpful feedback to assessors and candidates.  Best practice in internal verification is to have the activity spread evenly over the life of the Portfolio rather than at the end – there was strong evidence that this was the procedure in many centres.

Very good evidence of CPD taking place.

Variety of ways of recording this CPD.

Best practice CPD, not only showed the courses/meeting attended, but also had a column to record the impact of this CPD on the assessor/verifier. 

E-portfolios – excellent increasing use of e-portfolios – one main advantage of e-portfolios is the availability of candidate evidence on-line to the assessor at any time and can be viewed prior to visiting candidates.

There was also a good variety of evidence including photographs, audio files, video files. 

Comments on New Standards One centre said that they felt the wider choice of units and the ability to pick the level of unit undertaken by candidates gave a much better fit for candidate job roles. Centres are looking forward to starting the new standards and believe they look like an improvement on the last standards wherein the units are now smaller and less restrictive in terms of choice. Centres feel they can now more accurately tailor the award to suit the job roles of their candidates. They said they felt the units more closely matched the tasks candidates had to do

New Development Points Ensure evidence explicitly covers all PIs claimed as occasionally the coverage was implied For internal verification it is best practice to spread the activity throughout the life of the portfolio. It is also useful to carry out Internal verification soon after assessment decisions have been made. This allows candidates and assessors to respond quickly to any feedback from the IV process Where possible centres should obtain evidence from the underpinning knowledge from performance evidence rather than a bank of questions 

Centres should make themselves familiar with the new Assessment Guidance material produced by SQA. SQA’s website contains a variety of information and resources to support these awards

UNDERSTANDING STANDARDSUNDERSTANDING STANDARDS

Material produced to help give an insight into the

types of evidence deemed to represent good

practice

UNDERSTANDING STANDARDSUNDERSTANDING STANDARDS

Understanding Standards will help you

understand standards of assessment as they

are applied by SQA

UNDERSTANDING STANDARDSUNDERSTANDING STANDARDS

Understanding Standards will help demonstrate the flexibility that exists within the assessment process and indicates how to differentiate between levels by showing what to expect from candidates at each level

UNDERSTANDING STANDARDSUNDERSTANDING STANDARDS

Types of Evidence covered

STORYBOARDING

OBSERVATIONS

WORK PRODUCT

PROFESSIONAL DISCUSSION

UNDERSTANDING STANDARDSUNDERSTANDING STANDARDS

Types of evidence (continued)

QUESTIONS

PERSONAL STATEMENT

WITNESS TESTIMONY

CROSS REFERENCING