Curriculum for Excellence: The Structure and Design of new National Qualifications in Scotland February 2012 – Selkirk HS Scott Murphy CfE Liaison Manager Scottish Qualifications Authority

Purpose of Session This session will: Summarise new National Qualifications including Freestanding Literacy and Numeracy Units Explain the Development Process Identify the timescales involved and how to keep informed Conclude with Q&A opportunity

National Qualifications

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 Access 3 – replaces Standard Grade (Foundation) National 4 – replaces Standard Grade (General) and Intermediate 1 National 5 – replaces Standard Grade (Credit) and Intermediate 2

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 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

Added Value To be awarded the Course, learners must provide evidence which meets the requirements of all of the Units and the added value element National 4 Courses will not be graded. For National 4, the added value element 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

National Qualifications

Literacy and Numeracy Freestanding Units at SCQF levels 3, 4 and 5 – Access 3, National 4 and National 5. A Literacy Unit to be included in English Courses at SCQF levels 3 and 4 (Access 3 and National 4) A Numeracy Unit to be included in Mathematics Courses at SCQF levels 3 and 4 (Access 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

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 -

Timelines - Overview 2010 – new curriculum introduced 2011 – draft publications, consultation period – 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 (Access 1, 2, 3 and National 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 2011 Draft Publications Nat 4/5draft Rationale and Courses SummaryJan 11 Nat 4/5draft Courses SpecificationsApr 11 Higherdraft Rationale and Courses SummaryMay 11 Acc 3draft Rationale and Courses SummaryAug 11 Higherdraft Courses SpecificationsAug 11 Nat 4/5draft Unit SpecificationsAug 11 Nat 4draft Added Value Unit SpecificationsAug 11 Acc 3draft Courses SpecificationsOct 11 Higher draft Unit SpecificationsNov 11 Nat 5draft Courses Assessment Specs.Nov 11 Acc 3draft Unit Specifications Dec 11

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 Acc 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

Useful Links Keep Informed - – – – – –

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