svq business and administration network event march 2014

SVQ Business and Administration Network Event

March 2014

Aims of the EventTo support practitioners with the delivery and assessment of SVQs in Business andAdministration by:

♦ Providing information♦ Encouraging networking♦ Facilitating discussion/sharing of

practice

Theme for the day is: Continuing Partnership

Programme12.30 SQA Update

Understanding Standards Workshop – FAQs

14.30 Networking (tea & coffee)15.00 Senior EV Update

External Verification Model Update Open Discussion

16.00 Close

SQA Update♦ No changes to codes/frameworks♦ No changes to imported units♦ Up to date information always on SQA website:

SVQ Business & Admin 2011 webpage – Units, Assessment Strategy, Frameworks,

Candidate Portfolios, Internal Assessment (SEV) Reports,General Updates SQA Secure Site –Assessment GuidanceUnderstanding Standards Site –Examples of evidence, referencing, best practice, summary of

evidence types

SQA Update♦ Lapse date of current SVQs 31.01.2016

♦ Less than 2 years away

♦ No plans from Skills CfA re NOS review at this point

♦ Check SQA website for updates

♦ SQA Corporate Communication via weekly newsletter

SQA Update

2014 Development plans:

♦ Update of Assessment Guidance

♦ Frequently Asked Questions document for website

♦ Ongoing Verification activity

SQA UpdateIT Imported Units:

♦ SVQ frameworks based on number of units not SQA credits

♦ SQA credit value of all SVQ units is 1 by default

♦ Default value is simply a mechanism to build a framework where X number of units are required to achieve the SVQ Group Award

♦ SQA credit value for SVQ units not linked to hours (unlike HN etc)

♦ SVQ units are based on job tasks not notional classroom hours

SQA UpdateIT Imported Units (cont):

♦ All Business and Administration SVQ units are SCQF credit rated based on SCQF level and notional hours for average candidate to complete (two Financial Services Units are not SCQF credit rated)

♦ SCQF credit rating not used to construct the SVQ framework (this would be very complex) although minimum and maximum SCQF credit values are taken into account when frameworks are accredited and credit rated

♦ Candidate’s SCQF profile is recorded on Record of Achievement

SQA UpdateIT Imported Units (cont):

♦ IT User SVQs have based frameworks on SCQF credit rating

♦ Consequently IT units have been allocated multiple SQA credit values (e.g. 3,4,5 etc.) to meet rules of combination

♦ This is unique to the IT User SVQs and these values do not apply to other SVQs

♦ Mechanism has been in place from the outset to prevent more than 1 SQA credit contributing to SVQ Business and Admin frameworks

Understanding Standards

Examples of varying standards of practice relating to assessment and recording of evidence. Explains nature and purpose of various evidence types.

Three sections:♦ Assessor role♦ Evidence♦ Processes


Focuses on types of evidence rather than covering specific Units:

♦ ensures examples are relevant to all centres♦ future proofs against changes to standards

Centres can look to apply examples of good practice where not already in place and avoid examples of pitfalls and poor practice

Understanding Standards•

Understanding Standards•

http://www.understandingstandards.org.uk/Home


Workshop: Frequently Asked Questions


Senior External Verifier Update

Senior External Verifier UpdateIn 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

Senior External Verifier Update♦ 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


♦ All assessors had appropriate qualifications and experience – either D32/33, A1 or L&D9DI. New assessors were working towards L&D9DI

♦ 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.

Senior External Verifier UpdateComments 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 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

Senior External Verifier UpdateNew 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 familiarise themselves with the Assessment Guidance and Understanding Standards material produced by SQA

♦ SQA’s website contains a variety of information and resources to support these awards


External Verification Model Update


CRITERIA 2.3 Low

For regulated qualifications there must be documented evidence of

CPD activities


CRITERIA 2.4 High

Records must be maintained to provide evidence that the centre has sufficient

competent staff who have the necessary qualifications,


CRITERIA 2.4 (cont) High

occupational experience and understanding to support the

assessment and internal verification of qualifications being

offered by the centre


CRITERIA 2.8 High

There must be evidence of initial and on-going reviews of

assessment environment(s), assessment procedures,

equipment, learning and reference material


CRITERIA 3.2 Medium

Candidates’ development needs and prior achievements (where appropriate) must be matched against the requirements of the

award


CRITERIA 4.1 Medium

The centre’s assessment and verification procedures must be

documented and implemented to meet qualification and SQA

requirements


CRITERIA 4.2 High

The centre must provide documented evidence to ensure

that assessments are valid, reliable, equitable and fair


CRITERIA 4.3 High

Evidence of candidates’ work must be accurately and

consistently judged by the assessors against SQA’s

requirements


CRITERIA 4.5 High

The centre must take steps to ensure that assessment evidence

is the candidate’s own work


CRITERIA 4.6 High

The centre must comply with requests for access to premises, records, information, candidates

and staff for the purpose of external quality assurance


CRITERIA 4.7 High

Candidate evidence must be retained in line with SQA

requirements


CRITERIA 4.8 Medium

Outcomes of external quality assurance must be disseminated to appropriate staff and any action points must be monitored against

agreed timescales


CRITERIA 6.6 Low

Comments/queries about the qualification specification,

assessment guidance, qualification verification or related

SQA matters must be resolved and recorded


Open Discussion

www.sqa.org.uk I 0303 333 0330

svq business and administration network event march 2014

Documents

administration svq units

sqa credits sqa credit

units cont

svq frameworks

webpage units

specific units

multiple sqa credit

svq business admin