2. SQA Quality Assurance National Qualifications

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

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

5. Changes to assessment of National Qualifications • Removal of mandatory units at National 5 (2017-18) Higher (2018-19) and Advanced Higher (2019-20) • Greater focus on external assessment; reduced volume of internal assessment

6. Assessment of National 5 (current)

7. Changes to assessment of National 5 (from 2017/18)

8. Changes to assessment of National 5 (from 2017/18)

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

10. QA 2017-18: verification • 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) • 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)

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

12. QA 2017-18 cont • 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

13. Q & A about 2017-18

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

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

16. Workshop

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