ADES CAQ Meeting
17 January 2014
SQA Update
Gill Stewart, Director, Qualifications Development
Eric Martinez, Director, Operations
Supporting Schools – National 3-5
• National CPD Events
SQA / Local Authority Partnership to deliver.
Initially focussed on priority areas.
• Identify past paper questions that can be used to help
prepare for N5 exams
-
questions that can be used directly.
-
questions that can be adapted.
• Key messages from Verification
• Use of nominees by Local Authorities for CPD
• Subject Q&As – updated monthly
• Communication
Supporting Schools - Higher
• Higher Implementation Events
• Comparison between current & new Higher
• Publishing assessment materials
- Unit assessment support packs
- Specimen question papers
- Coursework information
Key messages from Verification (Round 1)
•
•
•
Use valid and reliable assessments
-
SQA-produced Unit Assessment Support Packs
-
Centre devised assessments that have been prior verified
-
Your own assessments – strongly advise you have these prior verified
Making assessment judgements
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SQA packs are designed on a pass/fail basis
-
Use Judging Evidence Tables to make assessment judgments against Assessment Standards
-
Judging Evidence Tables have commentary on how to meet each Assessment Standard
-
A task/activity can meet most or all of the Unit Outcome and Assessment Standards
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Indicate on candidate’s work that Unit Assessment Standards have been met
Unit Assessment complementing learning and teaching
-
Unit Assessment is open and flexible
-
Assessment should allow you space to prepare for Added Value/Course Assessment
Quality Assurance
• Round 1 verification complete
• Round 2 verification begun
• Release of Nominees
• Prior Verification
Implementing the New Highers
SQA National Qualifications
DUAL RUNNING YEARS
SESSION
SESSION
typically available in schools:
2013-14
2014-15
2015-16
2016-17
S4
New National 1 to
National 5
New National 1 to
National 5
New National 1 to
National 5
New National 1 to
National 5
S5
Current Higher,
New National 1 to
New National 1 to
New National 1 to
Intermediate 1
National 5 and Higher National 5 and Higher National 5 and Higher
and Intermediate 2
S6
Current Higher,
Advanced Higher,
and Intermediate 1
and Intermediate 2
YEAR GROUP
2013-14 to 2016-17
Current Higher,
New National 1 to
New National 1 to
Advanced Higher,
National 5, Higher and National 5, Higher and
and Intermediate 1
Advanced Higher
Advanced Higher
and Intermediate 2
Information on transition from National 5 to New Highers, areas of stability and
change will be published at the end of January 2014
Key Operational Dates
2 December
2013
Verification Round 2 selections advised to schools
15 January
2014
Verification Round 2 materials uplift
10 February
Visiting examination begins (until 16 May)
3 March
Verification Round 3 selections advised to schools
31 March
Closing date for withdrawals and change of course entry level
End March
Verification Round 2 key messages published
28 April
Verification Round 3 materials uplift
Closing date for Estimates
29 April
Examination Diet begins
Key Operational Messages
• Please encourage schools to meet published activity time lines.
These are vital to effective forward planning, resource deployment
and certification
• Use your local Customer Support Manager to build links to SQA
Questions?