Scott Murphy CfE Liaison Manager Scottish Qualifications Authority Scott.murphy@sqa.uk

2. Curriculum for Excellence: The Structure and Design of new National Qualifications in ScotlandFebruary 2012 – Selkirk HS Scott Murphy CfE Liaison Manager Scottish Qualifications Authority Scott.murphy@sqa.org.uk 07768 083 698

3. Purpose of Session This session will: • Summarise new National Qualifications including Freestanding Literacy and Numeracy Units • Explain the Development Process • Identify the timescales involved and how to keep informed • Conclude with Q&A opportunity

4. National Qualifications

5. New National Courses: Design • Current Qualifications will be revised – Access 1-3, Higher and Advanced Higher will be revised to reflect aims, values, principles of Curriculum for Excellence. Aim to provide good progression/articulation to and from National 4 and National 5 • Access 3 – replaces Standard Grade (Foundation) • National 4 – replaces Standard Grade (General) and Intermediate 1 • National 5 – replaces Standard Grade (Credit) and Intermediate 2

6. Assessment • Courses are Unit based - Units assessed pass/fail within centres – as at present • Assessment will be appropriate to subject and level – 7 methods – may be a combination of 2 methods. i.e Practical Activity and Portfolio – Physical Education @ National 5. • Exemplification will be provided for practitioners indicating how to combine Unit assessments to reduce the amount of assessment • Practitioners will be given exemplification that will highlight ways how to assess Unit by Unit

7. Added Value • To be awarded the Course, learners must provide evidence which meets the requirements of all of the Units and the added value element • National 4 Courses will not be graded. • For National 4, the added value element 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).

8. 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

9. National Qualifications

10. Literacy and Numeracy • Freestanding Units at SCQF levels 3, 4 and 5 – Access 3, National 4 and National 5. • A Literacy Unit to be included in English Courses at SCQF levels 3 and 4 (Access 3 and National 4) • A Numeracy Unit to be included in Mathematics Courses at SCQF levels 3 and 4 (Access 3 and National 4) • A Numeracy Unit to be included in Life-skills 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

11. Developing the new Courses Dedicated development teams – Over 1000 people involved • 10 Curriculum Area Review Groups (external nominations) • 42 Qualification Design Teams (external nominations) • Subject Working Groups - www.sqa.org.uk/subjectworkinggroups

12. Timelines - Overview • 2010 – new curriculum introduced • 2011 – draft publications, consultation period. • 2012 – consultation period and formal publication of new qualifications SCQF levels 1 to 6 (Access 1 – Higher) • 2013 – last Standard Grades and current Access 1, 2 & 3; publication of new qualifications level 7 (Advanced Higher) • 2014 – first new qualifications at levels 1 to 5 (Access 1, 2, 3 and National 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)

13. Key 2011 Draft Publications • Nat 4/5draft Rationale and Courses Summary Jan 11 • Nat 4/5draft Courses Specifications Apr 11 • Higherdraft Rationale and Courses Summary May 11 • Acc 3draft Rationale and Courses Summary Aug 11 • Higherdraft Courses Specifications Aug 11 • Nat 4/5draft Unit Specifications Aug 11 • Nat 4 draft Added Value Unit Specifications Aug 11 • Acc 3draft Courses Specifications Oct 11 • Higherdraft Unit Specifications Nov 11 • Nat 5draft Courses Assessment Specs. Nov 11 • Acc 3draft Unit Specifications Dec 11

14. Key 2012 Delivery Timelines • Higherdraft Courses Assessment Specifications Jan 12 • Nat 4/5draft Courses Support Notes Jan 12 • Higherdraft Courses Support Notes Feb 12 • Adv H draft Rationale and Courses Summary Mar 12 • Acc 3draft Courses Support Notes Apr 12 • Adv H draft Courses Specifications May 12 • Adv H draft Unit Specifications Oct 12 • Adv H draft Courses Assessment Specifications Dec 12 April 2012 • Publication of formal arrangements and specifications (SCQF Levels 1 – 6) • Implementation events – subject specific (May 2012 onwards) • Assessment support/exemplification will be available on NAR

15. 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

16. Questions? Thank you for your time........... Curriculum For Excellence Liaison Manager Scott.Murphy@sqa.org.uk 07768 083 698 @SQAScottM Edinburgh City, West Lothian, East Lothian, Midlothian and Scottish Borders