Curriculum for Excellence: the next generation of qualifications curriculumforexcellence Kathleen McCormick – Qualifications Development Consultant Margaret Sutherland– Qualifications Development Consultant (Languages)

Who are we? Seconded to SQA Members of the CfE Qualifications Development Team in the Languages Curriculum Area What do we do? Ongoing engagement and research Develop qualifications within SQA quality assurance framework

Aims To : Provide information about the design of new qualifications and timelines Provide information about Modern Languages National 4 and 5 Course Specifications and Higher Course Rationale and Summary; update on Language for Life and Work Award Provide information about the development process including the role of QDTs

Engagement Starter Take 5 minutes to discuss with those around you what you consider to be the issue/s or question/s that you require more information about Write them on the post-its provided

Modern Languages National 4 and 5 Course Specification

Key Features of Course Specification Focus on skills Opportunity to integrate skills across Course Broad range of contexts

Key Features of Course Specification Modern Languages is about understanding and using language through listening and talking, reading and writing. N4: 2 Units (focused on understanding and using language), plus 1 Added Value Unit (assignment that integrates and applies 4 languages skills) N5: 2 Units (focused on understanding and using language) plus 1 Course Assessment (question paper [reading, listening and writing]) and assignment [talking]) Broad contexts

Modern Languages Higher Course Rationale and Summary

Key Features provides progression from Modern Languages (National 5) and has the same Course structure and Unit titles as National 5 provides learners with the opportunity to understand and use more complex language in depth provides the opportunity to develop the language skills of translation provides flexibility to apply language skills in contexts relevant to learners, such as social media, job-related topics or through thematic approaches provides opportunities to use a broad range of texts

Engagement Feedback is sought in the following areas: the balance of skills across the Units the broad contexts for the Course how to assess listening and talking skills in an integrated way skills to be assessed in the assignment and question paper

Language for Life and Work Award Available at SCQF levels 3 and 4 Practical and relevant contexts Personal development – employability skils 3 Units, 2 of which existing SQA Units Opportunity to combine 2 languages

Design of new qualifications and timelines

New National Courses: Design Design principles agreed for National Courses from Access 2 to Advanced Higher New revised Access courses New National 4 – added value unit, ungraded New National 5 – course assessment, graded A to D New revised Higher and Advanced Highers, graded A to D Access, Higher and Advanced Higher – revised to reflect aims, values, principles of Curriculum for Excellence and provide good progression to and from National 4 and 5 New type of Unit – more skills-based, less prescriptive, and more user-friendly New Course Specifications will be more flexible and open.

Key Qualifications Delivery Timelines Nat 4/5 draft Rationale and Courses SummaryJan 11 Nat 4/5 draft Courses SpecificationsApr 11 Higher draft Rationale and Courses SummaryMay 11 Higher draft Courses SpecificationsAug 11 Nat 4/5 draft Unit SpecificationsAug 11 Acc 3 draft Rationale and Courses SummaryAug 11 Acc 3 draft Course SpecificationsOct 11 N4/5 draft Course and Unit Assessment SpecsNov 11 Higher draft Unit SpecificationsNov 11 Acc 3 draft Unit Specifications Dec 11 Publications of Arrangements/Specifications Apr 12 (SCQF 1 to 6)

Specifications, guidance and support New ways of specifying requirements – shorter, more open, less prescriptive: Course Specification: outlines Course structure and what is required to pass the Course Unit Specification: outcomes and assessment standards Course Assessment Specification: mandatory assessment requirements More guidance and support – for example: Course and Unit Support Notes: guidance on delivering Courses and the Units, approaches to learning and teaching Exemplification: approaches to Course and Unit assessment

Assessment Course assessment : added value – breadth, challenge and application methods defined Unit assessment: broader outcome statements and assessment standards, more open, flexible evidence requirements flexibility for practitioners to make decisions about assessment methods

Development Process

QA and Engagement Review of Courses Coordination Group (internal & external) Languages Curriculum Area Review Group QDT English, Gàidhlig, and Literacy SWG QDT ESOL SWG QDT Latin SWG QDT Media SWG QDT Modern Languages SWG

Qualifications Development Model Subject/Curriculum Area Expertise: QDT & CARG Course Design: Design principles Technical Writing: QDCs assisted by SWG Assessment Expertise: SQA Qualification

Products published to date Progress Report Overview of qualifications report Draft N4/N5 Rationale and Course Summaries Draft N4/N5 Course Specifications Draft Higher Course Rationale and Summary All products are published on the website above. Myalerts service exists to notify you of updates. Have Your Say process ongoing.