SQA Quality Assurance National Qualifications SQA Quality Assurance

SQA Quality Assurance National Qualifications

SQA Quality Assurance session 1. NQ quality assurance 2017 -18 2. Workshop – quality assurance beyond 2017 -18

Quality Assurance of internal assessment w w Value of qualifications Fairness for all centres and candidates Protect the interests of candidates Increase assessors’ confidence in making assessment decisions w Confidence in outcomes of internal assessment

Changes to assessment of National Qualifications w Removal of mandatory units at National 5 (201718) Higher (2018 -19) and Advanced Higher (2019 -20) w Greater focus on external assessment; reduced volume of internal assessment

Assessment of National 5 (current) External Course Assessment Unit Assessment Internal Course assessment N 5

Changes to assessment of National 5 (from 2017/18) External Course Assessment Internal Course Assessment N 5

Changes to assessment of National 5 (from 2017/18) External Course Assessment N 5

What does this mean for QA? w Robust QA process will remain in place for SQA qualifications, but naturally the volume of verification will reflect the overall reduction in internal assessment

QA 2017 -18: verification w The same basic approach as previous years, with two rounds of verification – Round 1 in February (units) – Round 2 in March-May (principally AVU / IACCAs, but also some units) w National 1– 4 and SCQF Level 5 units will no longer be exempt from random selection for verification (but Higher and Advanced Higher will be exempt)

QA 2017 -18 cont w The nominee system will close. w Our focus of support will be on delivery of revised courses. w Understanding standards materials are available to support internal assessment. w Appointees will undertake verification activity.

QA 2017 -18 cont w Approval – if you are new to delivering these subjects you will need to request approval for: – National Courses: Care, Childcare, Philosophy, Psychology, Sociology, Practical Metalworking, Practical Woodworking, Practical Electronics – All Skills for Work – Awards, NPAs, PDAs, NCs, Foundation Apprenticeship Awards – Deadline: 29 September 2017

Q & A about 2017 -18

Changes to Scottish Education landscape w Developing Young Workforce w Partnership arrangements between centres w Reduced amount of internal assessment in National Courses w End of the period of Higher National and vocational qualifications QA 2015 -18 w Digital evidence

QA beyond 2017/18 w Desire to: w simplify interactions with centres working across qualification types w ensure equity in our approach to different centre types w recognise centres with mature and effective internal quality assurance systems w use digital evidence for verification w We are gathering views about the future of QA

Workshop

Workshop questions 1. Would you prefer a rolling model of verification, or would you prefer a round based approach? 2. Would it simplify things for you and your centre if SQA used the same quality assurance approach for all qualification types? 3. What are your views about sharing work digitally for SQA to verify, rather than providing physical copies?