Curriculum for Excellence: National Qualifications in Scotland November 2012 Scott Murphy CfE Liaison Manager Scottish Qualifications Authority

Purpose of Session This session will: Summarise new National Qualifications including freestanding Literacy/Numeracy Units Discuss assessment methods - Added Value components including controlled assessment and ‘Fallback’ Identify the timescales for future support Provide detail on proposed QA models – Internal Assessment Highlight future ‘Appeals’ process (Results Enquiry Service) Conclude with a Q & A session

New National Courses: Design Current Qualifications have been revised – Access 1-3, Higher and Advanced Higher 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 *New/revised NQs are valid from August 2013

Literacy and Numeracy Freestanding Units available at SCQF levels 3, 4 and 5. A Literacy Unit is included in English Courses at SCQF levels 3 and 4 (National 3 and National 4). A Numeracy Unit is included in Mathematics Courses at SCQF levels 3 and 4 (National 3 and National 4). A Numeracy Unit is included in Lifeskills 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.

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

Assessment Courses are Unit based - Units assessed pass/fail within centres – as at present. Re-assessment guidance will remain as it currently is. Assessment will be appropriate to subject and level – 7 methods – may be a combination of 2 methods. i.e National 5 - Performance and Question Paper. Exemplification will be provided for practitioners indicating how to combine Unit assessments. Practitioners will also be given exemplification that will highlight ways how to assess Unit by Unit. (Assessment Overviews)

Added Value Each Course from National 4 to Advanced Higher will be 160 notional hours (includes a 40-hour added value element). Added value assessment combines different elements of a Course into overall assessment which learners are required to pass in order to achieve a Course at those levels (SCQF 4 – 7) Added value is what makes the Course more than the sum of its parts. It builds on the current Course assessment for Intermediate, Higher and Advanced Higher.

Added Value This will sample breadth, challenge and/or application of skills from across the Course. National 3 and 4 Courses will not be graded. National 3 does not have added value element – Units only For National 4, the added value is in an Added Value Unit. For National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher, the 160 hours will include an added value Course assessment. The Course assessment at these levels will be graded A – D (as at present).

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

Controlled Assessment SQA is introducing controlled assessment for the National 4 Added Value Unit and Course assessment at National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher 3 stages of assessment: – Setting the assessment, Conducting the assessment, Marking the assessment 3 defined levels of control: – SQA-led, shared responsibility, centre-led

National 5 – 4 Fallback Candidates who have achieved all the Unit of a National 5 Course, but receive a 'No Award' (ie Band 8 or 9) for Course Assessment, will be able to get a National 4 Course Award in their August certification if they have already have a 'Pass' entered for the National 4 AV Unit (English and Maths also require Literacy and Numeracy Units). There will be opportunities for candidates who do not have 'Pass' entry for N4 AV Unit at Certification in August to be certificated at any point in the following Session - up to March. Centres will have to retain evidence for the National 4 AV Unit for verification purposes (until the end of that academic session)

Timelines - Overview 2011 – draft publications, consultation period – publication of new qualifications levels 1 to – last Standard Grades + 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)

Key 2012 Delivery Timelines Nat 2/3draft Courses Assessment SpecificationsJan 12 Higherdraft Courses Assessment SpecificationsJan 12 Nat 4/5draft Courses Support PacksJan 12 Higher draft Courses Support PacksFeb 12 Adv Hdraft Rationale and Courses SummaryMar 12 Nat 2/3draft Courses Support Packs Apr 12 Adv Hdraft Courses SpecificationsMay 12 Adv H draft Unit SpecificationsOct 12 Adv Hdraft Courses Assessment SpecificationsDec 12 Important Dates Publication of formal arrangements and specifications (SCQF Levels 1 – 6) National Implementation events (14 th -30 th May 2012) National Implementation events (3 rd -27 th Sept 2012) Regional subject specific events (October 2012 – March 2013) Further Subject Support Events will be held in sessions 2013/14 and 2014/15

Assessment Support Schedule 2012/13 3 rd – 27 th Sep 12 Curriculum Area Events 31 st Oct 12 N2 to N5 Unit Assessment Support (package 1) Oct 12 to Mar 13 Subject Specific Events 28 th Feb 13 N2 to N5 Unit Assessment Support (package 2) 28 th Feb 13 Publish N5 Specimen Question Paper 30 th Apr 13 N2 to N5 Unit Assessment Support (package 3) 30 th Apr 13 Publish N5 Specimen Coursework 30 th Apr 13 N4 Added Value Assessment Support

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

Quality Assurance - Key Aspects Verification will take place across levels from National 1 to Advanced Higher – QA Panel(s) Model. Both Units and Internally Assessed Course Components will be verified There will be more intense verification in the first 3 years – schools/ colleges will be verified in all broad subject areas being delivered. Intelligence led approach implemented in later years Unit verification will take place in November/December, February and May each session – allows for early identification of issues and support/guidance provided There will be a pool of nationally trained practitioners who will share/cascade information about national standards and support schools and their local authority - New ‘Nominee’ role Each local authority will be asked to nominate a proportionate number of Nominees to ensure support available across all authorities

QA Panels – Composition Principal Verifier – SQA Appointee (open recruitment): oversees all QA activity in subject area and produces annual National Internal Assessment Report (release between 6 – 12 days plus own time days) Team Leaders – nominated subject specialists who receive additional training to work in this role - become SQA Appointees with centre agreement (own time may be required) Nominee - QA Panel Members – nominated subject specialists with dual role: within their centres/Local Authority during internal quality assurance and moderation activity, and at QA Panel events

QA - Additional Detail Defined criteria for nominations covering SQA and centre/LA/sector requirements Larger pool of nominated subject specialists than will need to be deployed in any one year Annual process to confirm and refresh QA panels, as required On-line training and support – available to all practitioners ‘Live’ exemplification generated through early external QA activity – available to all practitioners Support for centres and departments as they develop their internal QA systems

QA – Implementation Timeline

Exceptional Circumstances (Pre-Results) Session 2013/14 Centre submits exceptional circumstances request SQA considers request, informs centre Request rejected, case closed Request approved, centre submits evidence Receive outcome

Results Enquiry Service Session 2013/14 Receive outcome Centre requests re-mark Centre still concerned Centre receives outcome Centre requests clerical check Centre concerned by candidate’s result

Useful Links Keep Informed - – – – – – – –

Questions? Thank you for your time Curriculum For Excellence Liaison Manager Twitter Edinburgh City, West Lothian, East Lothian, Midlothian and Scottish Borders