2. Understanding Standards: Nominee Training Event
Dance (National 5 and Higher)

3. Agenda Registration, Tea and Coffee 9.30
Welcome and Purpose of the Day
Recap on Lessons Learned from 2015/
Workshop 1: Standardisation Workshop
* Tea and Coffee will be refreshed mid-morning
Lunch
Workshop 1: cont
Feedback from Workshop 1 and Questions
*Tea/Coffee will be refreshed mid-afternoon
Workshop 2: Standardisation Workshop
Feedback from Workshop 2 and Questions
Questions and Next Steps
Close

4. Aims of the day
To support Nominees in their understanding of national standards by:
reviewing candidate evidence
discussing this evidence and associated assessment standards with colleagues
asking questions and seeking clarification about national standards
clarifying our roles as nominees and our part in the verification process

5. Lessons learned from last session
There were a number of centres who presented for the first time in 2015/2016 and SQA offered a high level of support and guidance to these centres.
Verification reports for Dance were of a high standard and for the most part gave clear and instructive guidance to centres.
There was a wider of variety of units in comparison with previous years.
Centres would benefit from the Prior Verification service – identifying if their approach to assessment is appropriate before the verification process.

6. Lessons learned from last session – Dance: Choreography unit
At Higher some centres used National 5 level structures and devices as part of unit assessment at this level, where Higher structures and devices should be used.
At National 5 some centres used group pieces of choreography rather than dances for two people.

7. Lessons learned from last session – Dance: Technical Skills
Assessment criteria continued to be an issue as some centres were unclear in how they were reaching their assessment decisions for Assessment Standard 2.1, meaning verification of these assessment judgements was challenging.
Centres still presented candidates in clothing that didn’t allow us to verify their technical skills. Clothing must be tight-fitting in order to demonstrate posture and alignment and correct technique.

8. Lessons learned from 2015/2016
More detail on lessons learned from 2015/2016 can be found in Key Messages, which are written after each round of verification.
Key messages from verification can be found at and we can and should encourage colleagues to look at them.

9. The Nominee role
Definition of a Nominee: Nominee is employed by their centre and has been nominated either by their local authority, college or independent school, to carry out quality assurance activity on SQA’s behalf.

10. Nominee Role in practice
For SQA the Nominee will:
For the local authority the Nominee will:
For the school/college the Nominee will:
Successfully undertake annual training on understanding national standards and online training via SQA Academy.
Assist in cascading national standards and good practice with colleagues in their local authority.
Assist in cascading national standards and good practice to colleagues.
Champion the new qualifications in their subject.
Support in-service, CPD and other local events to ensure that national standards are being consistently applied and maintained within their subject area.
Support centre events/trainings to ensure that national standards are being consistently applied and maintained within their subject area.
Participate in quality assurance events as required.
Champion the new qualifications within their subject.
Support the quality assurance processes in accordance with SQA policy and specification.
Assist in promoting benefits of the Nominee role to other teachers in their school/college.
Assist in the identification of potential exemplification material.
Promote understanding of national standards to parents and local employers.
Prepare clear, accurate and professional quality assurance reports for centres.
Assist SQA in the review of national consistency in relation to internal assessments.