Qualifications Qualifications

UpdateUpdate

Charlie OCharlie O’’DonnellDonnell

CfE Liaison ManagerCfE Liaison Manager

Current Qualifications New QualificationsReplaced

by Advanced HigherAug 2015

HigherAug 2014

National 5Aug 2013

National 4Aug 2013

National 3Aug 2013

National 2Aug 2013

National 1Aug 2013

New National QualificationsNew National Qualifications� The fresh approach to learning under Curriculum for

Excellence requires new assessment methods and qualifications

� The new National Qualifications that are being developed will have equal status and credibility to

those currently available and will support the new curriculum

� Designed to support Curriculum for Excellence as the new Qualifications build on the experiences and outcomes undertaken in S1 - S3

� Ensure that candidates skills and abilities are appropriately assessed and recognised

New National Courses: AssessmentNew National Courses: Assessment� Courses are Unit based. Units in all Courses will be

flexible to allow teachers to make decisions about unit

assessment methods

� 7 methods of assessment specified appropriate to

subject and level:

» Assignment» Case-Study» Project » Portfolio» Practical Activity» Performance» Test/Question paper

New National Courses: DesignNew National Courses: Design

� Courses at National 2,3 and 4 will not be graded. They

will be assessed as pass or fail

� Courses at National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher will

be graded A to D

CfE Qualifications TimelineCfE Qualifications Timeline� Session 2013/14

– first diet of new CfE Qualifications (N1 to N5), dual run with existing Access and Intermediates

– develop Assessment Support (Higher)

� Session 2014/15

– first diet of new Higher, dual run with existing Access, Intermediates and Highers

– develop Assessment Support (Advanced Higher)

� Session 2015/16

– first diet of Advanced Higher

Exceptional CircumstancesConsideration Service

Exceptional CircumstancesExceptional Circumstances

Consideration ServiceConsideration Service

� This service will assist candidates who could not sit an exam or who sat an exam but their performance suffered because of exceptional circumstances

� The service will operate before the exam results are sent out

� If a school or college believes this is the case, it must inform SQA within 10 working days of the exam

� The school or college must submit alternative evidence in support of the candidate

� A wide range of evidence will be considered

Post – results ServicePost Post –– results Serviceresults Service• This service will run after candidates have received

their certificates• If a school or college is concerned by a candidate’s

result, they can request

• clerical check and/or a marking review of the exam paper

• Schools and colleges will be charged a fee for using the Post-results Service where there is no change to

the original grade following the clerical check or marking review

• www.sqa.org.uk/resultsservices

Support Event for TeachersSupport Event for Teachers

•146 subject support events for new Higher courses will be held November 2013 – March 2014.

•Over 200 subject exemplification events across country.

•Events to support new Advanced Higher courses will be

held in November 2014 - March 2015. Dates will be

published in April 2014

Useful LinksUseful Links

For more information please visit websites listed

below –

www.sqa.org.uk/curriculumforexcellence

www.educationscotland.gov.uk

www.curriculumforexcellencescotland.gov.uk

http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/parentzone

www.scqf.org.uk

www.sptc.info

www.engageforeducation.org

www.enquire.org.uk

Curriculum for Excellence:

The structure and design of new National Qualifications in Scotland

Charlie O’Donnell

SQA CfE Liaison Manager

Curriculum for Excellence: Curriculum for Excellence:

The structure and design of new The structure and design of new

National Qualifications in ScotlandNational Qualifications in Scotland

Charlie OCharlie O’’DonnellDonnell

SQA CfE Liaison ManagerSQA CfE Liaison Manager