2. Curriculum for Excellence: The Structure and Design of new National Qualifications in Scotland April 2012 – Ross HS Scott Murphy CfE Liaison Manager Scottish Qualifications Authority Scott.murphy@sqa.org.uk 07768 083 698

3. Purpose of Session This session will: Summarise new National Qualifications including Freestanding Literacy and Numeracy Units Skills for Learning, Skills for Life and Skills For Work Explain the Development Process Quality Assurance of new National Qualifications Identify the timescales involved and how to keep informed Conclude with Q&A opportunity

4. National Qualifications

5. New National Courses: Design Current Qualifications will be revised – Access 1-3, Higher and Advanced Higher will be revised to reflect aims, values, principles of Curriculum for Excellence. Aim to provide good progression/articulation to and from National 4 and National 5 National 3 – replaces Standard Grade (Foundation) National 4 – replaces Standard Grade (General) and Intermediate 1 National 5 – replaces Standard Grade (Credit) and Intermediate 2

6. Assessment Courses are Unit based - Units assessed pass/fail within centres – as at present Assessment will be appropriate to subject and level – 7 methods – may be a combination of 2 methods. i.e Practical Activity and Portfolio – Physical Education @ National 5. Exemplification will be provided for practitioners indicating how to combine Unit assessments to reduce the amount of assessment Practitioners will be given exemplification that will highlight ways how to assess Unit by Unit

7. Added Value National 3 does not have added value element – Units only National 3 and 4 Courses will not be graded. At National 4, the added value is in an Added Value Unit - assesses skills, knowledge and understanding selected from the other Units of the Course At National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher - skills, knowledge and understanding will normally be assessed through a question paper examination and in most cases supplemented by one of six other agreed assessment methods in order to fit the purpose of the course

8. Added Value – 7 Methods of Assessment The National 4 Added Value Unit and National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher Course Assessment will be assessed using one or more of seven agreed methods: Assignment Case study Practical activity Performance Portfolio Project Question paper/test

9. National Qualifications Advanced Higher Higher National 5 National 4 National 3 National 2 National 1

10. Skills for Learning, Life and Work The SfLLW framework is being used in the new qualifications which support CfE. The framework will assist with the design of assessment and learning and teaching methods. These skills sit alongside knowledge, understanding and subject based skills – Literacy Numeracy Health and wellbeing Employability, enterprise and citizenship Thinking skills

11. Literacy and Numeracy Freestanding Units at SCQF levels 3, 4 and 5 – National 3, National 4 and National 5. A Literacy Unit to be included in English Courses at SCQF levels 3 and 4 (National 3 and National 4) A Numeracy Unit to be included in Mathematics Courses at SCQF levels 3 and 4 (National 3 and National 4) A Numeracy Unit to be included in Life-skills Mathematics Course at SCQF levels 4 and 5 (National 4 and 5) Some, not all, literacy/numeracy skills included in English and Mathematics at SCQF 5 (National 5) – no certification unless learner also completes freestanding Unit

12. Developing the new Courses Dedicated development teams – Over 1000 people involved 10 Curriculum Area Review Groups (external nominations) 42 Qualification Design Teams (external nominations) Subject Working Groups - www.sqa.org.uk/subjectworkinggroups www.sqa.org.uk/subjectworkinggroups

13. Quality Assurance - Key Messages from Engagement Need for robust Quality Assurance – credibility Approaches need to be developmental – building long-term capacity and confidence Approaches need to be inclusive and support collegial working – Partnership approach Role of SQA as guardian of national standards Constraints – budget, funding and release

14. Timelines - Overview 2010 – new curriculum introduced 2011 – draft publications, consultation period. 2012 – consultation period and formal publication of new qualifications SCQF levels 1 to 6 (Access 1 – Higher) 2013 – last Standard Grades and current Access 1, 2 & 3; publication of new qualifications level 7 (Advanced Higher) 2014 – first new qualifications at levels 1 to 5 (National 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5); dual run with existing National Courses 2015 – first new qualifications at level 6 (Higher); dual run with existing National Courses 2016 – first new qualifications at level 7 (Advanced Higher)

15. Key 2011 Draft Publications Nat 4/5draft Rationale and Courses SummaryJan 11 Nat 4/5draft Courses SpecificationsApr 11 Higherdraft Rationale and Courses SummaryMay 11 Nat 3draft Rationale and Courses SummaryAug 11 Higherdraft Courses SpecificationsAug 11 Nat 4/5draft Unit SpecificationsAug 11 Nat 4draft Added Value Unit SpecificationsAug 11 Nat 3draft Courses SpecificationsOct 11 Higher draft Unit SpecificationsNov 11 Nat 5draft Courses Assessment Specs.Nov 11 Nat 3draft Unit Specifications Dec 11

16. Key 2012 Delivery Timelines Higherdraft Courses Assessment SpecificationsJan 12 Nat 4/5draft Courses Support NotesJan 12 Higher draft Courses Support NotesFeb 12 Adv Hdraft Rationale and Courses SummaryMar 12 Nat 3draft Courses Support Notes Apr 12 Adv Hdraft Courses SpecificationsMay 12 Adv H draft Unit SpecificationsOct 12 Adv Hdraft Courses Assessment SpecificationsDec 12 April 2012 Publication of formal arrangements and specifications (SCQF Levels 1 – 6) Implementation events – subject specific (May 2012 onwards) Assessment support/exemplification will be available on NAR

17. Useful Links Keep Informed - – www.sqa.org.uk/curriculumforexcellence www.sqa.org.uk/curriculumforexcellence – www.sqa.org.uk/haveyoursay www.sqa.org.uk/haveyoursay – www.sqa.org.uk/subjectworkinggroups www.sqa.org.uk/subjectworkinggroups – www.sqa.org.uk/myalerts www.sqa.org.uk/myalerts – www.sqa.org.uk/cfeteam www.sqa.org.uk/cfeteam

18. Questions? Thank you for your time........... Curriculum For Excellence Liaison Manager Scott.Murphy@sqa.org.uk 07768 083 698 @SQAScottM Edinburgh City, West Lothian, East Lothian, Midlothian and Scottish Borders