SVQ Business and Administration Network Event March 2014

2. SVQ Business and Administration Network EventMarch 2014

3. Aims of the Event To support practitioners with the delivery and assessment of SVQs in Business and Administration by: Providing information Encouraging networking Facilitating discussion/sharing of practice Theme for the day is: Continuing Partnership

4. Programme 12.30 SQA Update Understanding Standards Workshop – FAQs 14.30 Networking (tea & coffee) 15.00 Senior EV Update External Verification Model Update Open Discussion 16.00 Close

5. SQA Update No changes to codes/frameworks No changes to imported units Up to date information always on SQA website: SVQ Business & Admin 2011 webpage – Units, Assessment Strategy, Frameworks, Candidate Portfolios, Internal Assessment (SEV) Reports, General Updates SQA Secure Site – Assessment Guidance Understanding Standards Site – Examples of evidence, referencing, best practice, summary of evidence types

6. SQA Update Lapse date of current SVQs 31.01.2016 Less than 2 years away No plans from Skills CfA re NOS review at this point Check SQA website for updates SQA Corporate Communication via weekly newsletter

7. SQA Update 2014 Development plans: Update of Assessment Guidance Frequently Asked Questions document for website Ongoing Verification activity

8. SQA Update IT Imported Units: SVQ frameworks based on number of units not SQA credits SQA credit valueof all SVQ units is 1 by default Default value is simply a mechanism to build a framework where X number of units are required to achieve the SVQ Group Award SQA credit value for SVQ units not linked to hours (unlike HN etc) SVQ units are based on job tasks not notional classroom hours

9. SQA Update IT Imported Units (cont): All Business and Administration SVQ units are SCQF credit rated based on SCQF level and notional hours for average candidate to complete (two Financial Services Units are not SCQF credit rated) SCQF credit rating not used to construct the SVQ framework (this would be very complex) although minimum and maximum SCQF credit values are taken into account when frameworks are accredited and credit rated Candidate’s SCQF profile is recorded on Record of Achievement

10. SQA Update IT Imported Units (cont): IT User SVQs have based frameworks on SCQF credit rating Consequently IT units have been allocated multiple SQA credit values (e.g. 3,4,5 etc.) to meet rules of combination This is unique to the IT User SVQs and these values do not apply to other SVQs Mechanism has been in place from the outset to prevent more than 1 SQA credit contributing to SVQ Business and Admin frameworks

11. Understanding Standards Examples of varying standards of practice relating to assessment and recording of evidence. Explains nature and purpose of various evidence types. Three sections: Assessor role Evidence Processes

12. Understanding Standards Focuses on types of evidence rather than covering specific Units: ensures examples are relevant to all centres future proofs against changes to standards Centres can look to apply examples of good practice where not already in place and avoid examples of pitfalls and poor practice

13. Understanding Standards

14. Understanding Standards http://www.understandingstandards.org.uk/Home

15. Understanding Standards

16. SVQ Business and Administration Network Event Workshop: Frequently Asked Questions

17. SVQ Business and Administration Network Event Senior External Verifier Update

18. Senior External Verifier Update • In the centres sampled : • Assessment instruments were appropriate • There was sufficient evidence • Judgementof candidate evidence was appropriate • Centreswere well aware of the National Standards and of the appropriate Assessment Strategies relating to these • awards • Assessment decisions were valid and reliable • Candidate evidence was well presented and • well assessed

19. Senior External Verifier Update • Very good “Evidence Tracking Sheets” for every unit, showing evidence tracked against PIs and K and U • Evidence within the Portfolios was clearly structured with good cross-referencing from the Optional Units into the Core Units • Good balance between Performance Evidence and Supporting Evidence with good use of storyboards/personal statements to place the evidence in context – good annotation of evidence

20. Senior External Verifier Update • The Assessment Guidance developed by SQA has helped centres gain an accurate understanding of the National Standards

21. Senior External Verifier Update • All assessors had appropriate qualifications and experience – either D32/33, A1 or L&D9DI. New assessors were working towards L&D9DI • Excellent evidence available that assessors take part in standardisationmeetings

22. Senior External Verifier Update • Very good Observation Reports – marking PIs and K and U covered as well as cross-referencing to the Core Units

23. Senior External Verifier Update • There was good clear evidence of assessment planning • There were clear stages of planning, assessing, review • and feedback • Candidate feedback indicated that they were very well • supported by assessors.

24. Senior External Verifier Update • Excellent evidence of IV procedures being applied appropriately – robust IV procedures in place. • Evidence of prompt, accurate and helpful feedback to assessors and candidates. • Best practice in internal verification is to have the activity spread evenly over the life of the Portfolio rather than at the end – there was strong evidence that this was the procedure in many centres.

25. Senior External Verifier Update • Very good evidence of CPD taking place. • Variety of ways of recording this CPD. • Best practice CPD, not only showed the courses/meeting attended, but also had a column to record the impact of this CPD on the assessor/verifier.

26. Senior External Verifier Update • E-portfolios – excellent increasing use of e-portfolios – one main advantage of e-portfolios is the availability of candidate evidence on-line to the assessor at any time and can be viewed prior to visiting candidates. • There was also a good variety of evidence including photographs, audio files, video files.

27. Senior External Verifier Update • Comments on New Standards • One centre said that they felt the wider choice of units and the ability to pick the level of unit undertaken by candidates gave a much better fit for candidate job roles. • Centres believe they look like an improvement on the last standards wherein the units are now smaller and less restrictive in terms of choice. • Centres feel they can now more accurately tailor the award to suit the job roles of their candidates. They said they felt the units more closely matched the tasks candidates had to do

28. Senior External Verifier Update • New Development Points • Ensure evidence explicitly covers all PIs claimed as occasionally the coverage was implied • For internal verification it is best practice to spread the activity throughout the life of the portfolio. It is also useful to carry out Internal verification soon after assessment decisions have been made. This allows candidates and assessors to respond quickly to any feedback from the IV process • Where possible centres should obtain evidence from the underpinning knowledge from performance evidence rather than a bank of questions

29. Senior External Verifier Update • Centres should familiarisethemselves with the Assessment Guidance and Understanding Standards material produced by SQA • SQA’s website contains a variety of information and resources to support these awards

30. SVQ Business and Administration Network Event External Verification Model Update

31. External Verification Model Update CRITERIA 2.3 Low For regulated qualifications there must be documented evidence of CPD activities

32. External Verification Model Update CRITERIA 2.3 Low For regulated qualifications there must be documented evidence of CPD activities

33. External Verification Model Update CRITERIA 2.4 High Records must be maintained to provide evidence that the centre has sufficient competent staff who have the necessary qualifications,

34. External Verification Model Update CRITERIA 2.4 (cont) High occupational experience and understanding to support the assessment and internal verification of qualifications being offered by the centre

35. External Verification Model Update CRITERIA 2.8 High There must be evidence of initial and on-going reviews of assessment environment(s), assessment procedures, equipment, learning and reference material

36. External Verification Model Update CRITERIA 3.2 Medium Candidates’ development needs and prior achievements (where appropriate) must be matched against the requirements of the award

37. External Verification Model Update CRITERIA 4.1 Medium The centre’s assessment and verification procedures must be documented and implemented to meet qualification and SQA requirements

38. External Verification Model Update CRITERIA 4.2 High The centre must provide documented evidence to ensure that assessments are valid, reliable, equitable and fair

39. External Verification Model Update CRITERIA 4.3 High Evidence of candidates’ work must be accurately and consistently judged by the assessors against SQA’s requirements

40. External Verification Model Update CRITERIA 4.5 High The centre must take steps to ensure that assessment evidence is the candidate’s own work

41. External Verification Model Update CRITERIA 4.6 High The centre must comply with requests for access to premises, records, information, candidates and staff for the purpose of external quality assurance

42. External Verification Model Update CRITERIA 4.7 High Candidate evidence must be retained in line with SQA requirements

43. External Verification Model Update CRITERIA 4.8 Medium Outcomes of external quality assurance must be disseminated to appropriate staff and any action points must be monitored against agreed timescales

44. External Verification Model Update CRITERIA 6.6 Low Comments/queries about the qualification specification, assessment guidance, qualification verification or related SQA matters must be resolved and recorded

45. SVQ Business and Administration Network Event Open Discussion