ADES CAQ Meeting 17 January 2014

SQA UpdateGill Stewart, Director, Qualifications DevelopmentEric Martinez, Director, Operations

Supporting Schools – National 3-5

• National CPD Events

SQA / Local Authority Partnership to deliver.

Initially focussed on priority areas.

• Identify past paper questions that can be used to help prepare for N5 exams

- questions that can be used directly.

- questions that can be adapted.

• Key messages from Verification

• Use of nominees by Local Authorities for CPD

• Subject Q&As – updated monthly

• Communication

Supporting Schools - Higher

• Higher Implementation Events

• Comparison between current & new Higher

• Publishing assessment materials

- Unit assessment support packs

- Specimen question papers

- Coursework information

Key messages from Verification (Round 1)

• Use valid and reliable assessments

- SQA-produced Unit Assessment Support Packs

- Centre devised assessments that have been prior verified

- Your own assessments – strongly advise you have these prior verified

• Making assessment judgements

- SQA packs are designed on a pass/fail basis

- Use Judging Evidence Tables to make assessment judgments against Assessment Standards

- Judging Evidence Tables have commentary on how to meet each Assessment Standard

- A task/activity can meet most or all of the Unit Outcome and Assessment Standards

- Indicate on candidate’s work that Unit Assessment Standards have been met

• Unit Assessment complementing learning and teaching

- Unit Assessment is open and flexible

- Assessment should allow you space to prepare for Added Value/Course Assessment

Quality Assurance

• Round 1 verification complete

• Round 2 verification begun

• Release of Nominees

• Prior Verification

Implementing the New Highers

SQA National Qualifications typically available in schools: 2013-14 to 2016-17

DUAL RUNNING YEARS SESSION SESSION

2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17

YEAR GROUP

S4 New National 1 to National 5

New National 1 to National 5

New National 1 to National 5

New National 1 to National 5

S5Current Higher, Intermediate 1

and Intermediate 2

New National 1 to National 5 and

Higher

New National 1 to National 5 and Higher

New National 1 to National 5 and Higher

S6Current Higher,

Advanced Higher, and Intermediate 1 and Intermediate 2

Current Higher, Advanced Higher, and Intermediate 1 and Intermediate 2

New National 1 to National 5, Higher and

Advanced Higher

New National 1 to National 5, Higher and

Advanced Higher

Information on transition from National 5 to New Highers, areas of stability and change will be published at the end of January 2014

Key Operational Dates

2 December 2013

Verification Round 2 selections advised to schools

15 January 2014

Verification Round 2 materials uplift

10 February Visiting examination begins (until 16 May)

3 March Verification Round 3 selections advised to schools

31 March Closing date for withdrawals and change of course entry level

End March Verification Round 2 key messages published

28 April Verification Round 3 materials upliftClosing date for Estimates

29 April Examination Diet begins

Key Operational Messages

• Please encourage schools to meet published activity time lines. These are vital to effective forward planning, resource deployment and certification

• Use your local Customer Support Manager to build links to SQA

Questions?