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Curriculum for Excellence: National Qualifications in Scotland November 2012. Scott Murphy CfE Liaison Manager Scottish Qualifications Authority Scott.murphy@sqa.org.uk 07768 083 698 @SQAScottM. Purpose of Session. This session will:
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Curriculum for Excellence:National Qualifications in ScotlandNovember 2012 Scott Murphy CfE Liaison Manager Scottish Qualifications Authority Scott.murphy@sqa.org.uk 07768 083 698 @SQAScottM
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.
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 Drama @ 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. • 2012 – publication of new qualifications levels 1 to 6 • 2013 – 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 2/3draftCourses Assessment Specifications Jan 12 • Higherdraft Courses Assessment Specifications Jan 12 • Nat 4/5draft Courses Support Packs Jan 12 • Higherdraft Courses Support Packs Feb 12 • AdvH draft Rationale and Courses Summary Mar 12 • Nat 2/3draft Courses Support Packs Apr 12 • Adv H draft Courses Specifications May 12 • Adv H draft Unit Specifications Oct 12 • Adv H draft Courses Assessment Specifications Dec 12 Important Dates • Publication of formal arrangements and specifications (SCQF Levels 1 – 6) • National Implementation events (14th-30th May 2012) • National Implementation events (3rd -27th Sept 2012) • Regional subject specific events (October 2012 – March 2013) • Further Subject Support Events will be held in sessions 2013/14 and 2014/15
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
Exceptional Circumstances (Pre-Results)Session 2013/14 Centre submits exceptional circumstances request SQA considers request, informs centre Request approved, centre submits evidence Request rejected, case closed Receive outcome
Results Enquiry ServiceSession 2013/14 Centre concerned by candidate’s result Centre requests clerical check Centre receives outcome Centre still concerned Centre requests re-mark Receive outcome
Useful Links Keep Informed - www.sqa.org.uk/curriculumforexcellence www.sqa.org.uk/haveyoursay www.sqa.org.uk/subjectworkinggroups www.sqa.org.uk/myalerts www.sqa.org.uk/cfeteam www.sqa.org.uk/appointees www.sqa.org.uk/cfeqa
Questions? Thank you for your time........... Curriculum For Excellence Liaison Manager Scott.Murphy@sqa.org.uk 07768 083 698 Twitter - @SQAScottM Edinburgh City, West Lothian, East Lothian, Midlothian and Scottish Borders