SQA National Qualifications Update
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Presentation delivered by Fiona Malone, SQA, at the CDN MIS Development Network event, 25/04/17.
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SQA National Qualifications Update
- 2. National Qualifications Update NQ Changes for Diet 2018
- 3. Purpose of today Background to NQ changes NQ changes for 2017- 2018 Units at National 5 Courses at National 5 Assessment material Grading and presentation of candidates NQ Quality Assurance Recognising Positive Achievement National 4 Entering and resulting NQs for Diet 2018
- 4. Background Assessment and National Qualifications (ANQ) Group SQA research Industrial action Announcements from ANQ Group: – September 2016 – March 2017
- 5. NQ changes National 5: units What? Why? When?
- 6. NQ changes National 5: course What? Why? When?
- 7. NQ changes: Information and Documentation End of January 2017 • Changes to National 5 assessment framework for each subject End of April 2017 • Revised mandatory course documents End of May to September 2017 • Production of support materials
- 8. Grading of National Courses Grade A: 70% Grade B: 60-69% Grade C: 50-59% Grade D: 40-49% - extended
- 9. Presentation of candidates National Course SCQF units 1 year or 2 Entries and Estimates
- 10. NQ Quality Assurance External Verification 2017-18 SCQF level 5 units National 5 courses Higher Advanced Higher
- 11. Future of National 4 ANQ Group - current discussion Externality and differentiation Context of candidate pathways
- 12. Interim use of Recognising Positive Achievement “Given the agreed need to reduce assessment related workload, this pathway should only be used in a very limited number of exceptional circumstances, where the view of the teacher and head teacher, in discussion with parents and young people, is that it is in the interests of specific individual learners” - Scottish Government Policy Statement, March 2017
- 13. Recognising Positive Achievement Interim use Less than 40% Achievement of a National 4 course
- 14. NQs: entering and resulting 2017-18 Business as usual Single sign on for NQ Guide for Co-ordinators Calendar of Key Dates Confirmation on codes for National 5 courses coming soon
- 15. SQA events College Co-ordinator event – 24 August 2017 CDN and SQA webinars SQA subject specific National 5 webinars Marking Opportunities www.sqa.org.uk/nqevents www.sqa.org.uk/am
- 16. For further support, contact: Fiona Malone, Liaison Manager • Fiona.Malone@sqa.org.uk • 07855 087070
Editor's Notes
- Introduce yourself. Explain format of time you have, happy to take feedback/questions etc. Explain purpose of today is to: Explain the background/context of the changes to NQ What are the changes for this coming session ie Aug 17 to June 18 What new assessment material will be avialable? Changes to grading and what to think about for presenting your candidates – may help with your discussions around school/college partnerships. QA Assurance Plans for External Verification during 2017/18 Considerations for future changes to National 4 Certificating candidates for NQ Courses or Units.
- Ministerial Group on Assessment and National Qualifications (ANQ) Group was established in January 2016. Dr Alasdair Allan chaired group until May 2016, thereafter group was chaired by Depute FM John Swinney. Group initially set up to consider and make recommendations on the policy framework within which national qualifications are developed and operate; and on assessment policy and practice from age 3 to 18, and the best means of supporting improvements. Members of ANQ group – Association of Directors of Education in Scotland (ADES) Association of Headteachers and Deputes in Scotland Colleges Scotland COSLA Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) Education Scotland Further and Higher Education representatives NASUWT National Parent Forum of Scotland School Leaders Scotland Scottish Government Scottish Qualifications Authority Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association SQA Fieldwork Report In July 2015, SQA’s Qualifications Committee approved proposals to carry out an initial evaluation of the design, assessment and implementation of the new National Qualifications. This included a research exercise with a particular focus on internal Unit assessment (IAU) and fieldwork visits to schools to speak to groups of young people, teachers, and senior managers. Both pieces of work make reference to the design model approved by the Curriculum for Excellence Management Board. At least one secondary school in each local authority was visited by SQA staff between November 2015 and January 2016. They spoke to S5/6 pupils, a sample of subject teachers and the senior management team in the school, using three common sets of questions. The report on Internal unit assessment in national qualifications was based on an examination of policy and guidance documents, including the reasons for Unit-based courses, plus other product specification and support material used in the previous (eg Intermediate) and current (eg National 5) National Courses. It was informed by workshop discussions in 29 National Qualifications Support Team (NQST) meetings in the autumn of 2015 and by an online practitioner survey between October 2015 and January 2016. The discussion at the NQST meetings was shaped by a series of questions around Unit assessment and its relationship with Course assessment. The same questions were also made available through an online survey which elicited over 3,000 responses. The evidence from the IUA and Fieldwork reports influenced both the overall action plan intimated to the Working Party on Assessment and National Qualifications and the Subject Review Report action plans published in May 2016. ANQ report was published in May 16 and outlined actions to be undertaken by key stakeholders. The ANQ report sets out the additional actions which the national bodies – SQA and Education Scotland, working with local authorities and teachers – will take in response to this initial phase of the Group’s work. ANQ subsequent announcement – Sept 21st 2016 report An announcement made by DFM John Swinney on September 21st 2016 outlined further action to reduce workload for teachers and learners from session 2017/18 onwards, specifically referencing the removal of mandatory unit assessments from National 5 qualifications in 2017/18 and Higher qualifications in 2018/19. Following subsequent discussions with the CfE Management Board, mandatory unit assessment will be removed from Advanced Higher qualifications in 2019 Subject Review Reports When we looked at how we might address these issues highlighted in fieldwork and IUA reports it became evident that one approach did not fit all subjects. Hence, three approaches were developed to support re-assessment and recording, all of which will help to reduce workload for teachers and learners. The three approaches have been accelerated for 2016/17. the Subject Review Reports have used evidence to identify specific issues and actions to address these in the short and medium terms. Supplementary information is available at: https://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/files_ccc/NQ_Next_Steps-Guide_to_what_this_means_for_teachers_and_lecturers.pdf http://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/files_ccc/Executive_Summary_of_SQA_initial_evaluation_of_new_National_Courses.pdf http://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/files_ccc/SQA_Fieldwork_visits.pdf www.sqa.org.uk/nqchanges http://news.gov.scot/news/action-on-teacher-workload-confirmed http://www.gov.scot/Resource/0050/00500819.pdf April update – ANQ 31 March 2017 implications of the removal of unit assessments from the National Qualifications importance of well informed and accurate presentation decisions extension of Grade D as the mechanism for recognising positive achievement plans to review assessment of the National 4 qualification. It supplements the material released by the SQA on 31 January providing the headline details of the changes to the assessment framework for each National 5 course following the removal of unit assessments. http://www.gov.scot/Resource/0051/00516166.pdf
- What: In September 2016 the CFE Management Board ratified ANQ decision to remove mandatory units and their assessment and enhance course assessment These have been removed as mandatory content of a NQ Course. Now available as free-standing units at SCQF level 5. When: National 5 17-18, Higher 18-19 and AH 19-20 Why The removal of mandatory unit assessments has the distinct purpose of reducing the amount of assessment experienced by young people taking national qualifications and the teacher workload created as a result of administering the units. The course aims, content and rationale are not changing. The removal of mandatory unit assessment reflects proposals from some teachers’ groups who felt that the cumulative impact of typically having to undertake three unit assessments, course assignments, prelims and a final exam for each course was too great. This was especially the case in the context of one year courses, which was a common approach, and was detracting from providing sufficient time for high quality learning and teaching Remember though teaching, learning and assessment is business as usual – UASPs still available etc etc.
- What As a result of the removal of mandatory unit content: There will be clarification to the aims, rationale or content of the courses. Course assessment will be strengthened to ensure breadth of course coverage. The changes to course assessment will result in one or more of the following: - extension of the existing question paper - extension of the existing item of coursework - new question paper - new item of coursework When National 5 17-18, H 18-19 and AH 19-20 Why SQA was asked to remove units and unit assessments from National courses. The current course assessment approach requires candidates to complete internally assessed National units and a course assessment, which is normally an examination question paper and/or coursework. Removing the units and unit assessments means that we need to strengthen the course assessments to maintain 24 SCQF credit points and protect the integrity of National courses. In many courses we will extend the existing question paper and/or coursework to ensure breadth of course coverage and maintain rigour. In a smaller number of courses we will introduce a new question paper or coursework. This is required where a significant aspect of the course is currently only assessed in the units. For example, practical subjects which are currently assessed by coursework alone may be modified by the addition of a new question paper to assess knowledge and understanding. Similarly, in a small number of subjects some significant skills are currently only assessed within units and this may require the addition of coursework to assess these skills.
- The removal of units from courses gives SQA the opportunity to streamline existing course documentation – identified as an area of concern for teachers earlier in the year. The revised course documentation will include introductory information, mandatory content and information about course assessment. It will also address issues identified in the subject review reports which were published in May 2016. High-level detail for each subject at National 5 was published by SQA in January 2017, with further detail to follow in revised course documentation by the end of April 2017. This will replace the current course documentation, which is covered in various documents, with one single document per subject. Publication timeline for National 5 End of January Early information regarding course assessment modifications End of April Revised mandatory course documents End of May to end of September New and/or revised support materials, including specimen question paper and coursework where required Course documentation will be revised by the end of April 2017. There will be one single document per subject containing: - Course Specification - Course assessment specification - Coursework general assessment information Course support notes will be published as an appendix as soon as available between April - September Course overview - rationale - purpose and aims Course content - skills, knowledge and understanding - skills for learning, skills for life, skills for work Course assessment - structure of components - grading - Marking Instructions Equality and Inclusion - assessment?? Appendix: course support notes - approaches to learning and teaching - preparing for course assessment
- The mechanism agreed by the Assessment and Qualifications Group for RPA going forward will be the extension of Grade D to include candidates who achieve between 40–49%. Currently, a candidate who achieves a notional 45% or above in a national course would receive an award (candidates above a notional 50% receive an A-C award; candidates achieving a notional 45%-49% at present receive a D award). Grade D attainment will therefore be broadened from the current position to notional 40%-49%. This ten per cent range brings a Grade D award into line with the ranges for Grades B and C. This move is intended to ensure that young people who do not achieve at the level predicted in the course assessment receive credit for their achievement at the SCQF level of the qualification for which they were entered.
- ANQ announcement March 2017 Centres must decide whether a learner is presented for either a National course award or SCQF level 5 Units – entries by 31 January. 28th April for Estimates. Certain subjects 30th May. Unit results in by 1 June. Some learners may presented for a number of full courses and additionally for a number of free-standing units in different subjects Some learners may be presented for courses over 2 years As under current arrangements, centres should provide an accurate indication of candidate presentations Units that were previously part of National 5 – ie scqf in by 1 june. These national units will remain available as free standing units at SCQF level 5. The units will no longer form part of the National 5 course, which will continue to develop over time. The decision to retain units as free-standing qualifications is intended to support flexibility in meeting the different needs of individual learners. Some learners may for instance be presented for a number of full courses and additionally for a number of free-standing units in different subjects. This may be particularly relevant for Colleges to consider, especially when enrolling students on full time courses with a number of other National 5 course awards and units which are required for progression purposes. Schools should, therefore, decide for any given National 5 course whether a young person is presented either for units or for the full course award. Link to school college partnership. For some learners, schools should consider planning pupils’ learning experience over two years.
- Further info on QA procedures for Diet 18 will be released in due course. The Units that used to form part of the National courses will now be free standing Units at SCQF level 5 and will be subject to SQA's QA procedures This means that in 2017/18 Units that used to be part of N5 will be subject to random sampling ie SCQF level 5 ones IACCAs selected in Round 2 for National 5 – business as usual. No round 1 now for National 5 Courses. H and AH – business as usual. Ie Round 1 and Round 2 etc, but no random sampling here at these levels. These national units will remain available as free standing units at SCQF level 5. The units will no longer form part of the National 5 course, which will continue to develop over time. The decision to retain units as free-standing qualifications is intended to support flexibility in meeting the different needs of individual learners. Some learners may for instance be presented for a number of full courses and additionally for a number of free-standing units in different subjects. This may be particularly relevant for Colleges to consider, especially when enrolling students on full time courses with a number of other National 5 course awards and units which are required for progression purposes. Schools should, therefore, decide for any given National 5 course whether a young person is presented either for units or for the full course award. For some learners, schools should consider planning pupils’ learning experience over two years.
- The Assessment and National Qualifications Group are considering the approach to assessment of the National 4 qualification The initial focus will be on the value of a form of externality in assessment, and on the ability to differentiate candidate performance It is important that these discussions are taken forward in the context of the different pathways that might be taken by a candidate who achieves a National 4 National 4 is a route to college programmes. Remember historic reason for why National 4 were not graded – candidates who do this level traditionally don’t perform well in exam assessment conditions.
- Centres will be able to use current mechanism or recognising positive achievement through fallback to National 4 where a candidate achieves less than 40% Centres will be able to present candidates for units that were formerly part of National 5 and the full revised National 5 course This pathway will be available as an interim measure only, until any changes to the assessment of National 4 have been introduced The mechanism agreed by the Assessment and Qualifications Group for RPA going forward will be the extension of Grade D to include candidates who achieve between 40–49%. Guidance on entering and resulting for RPA will be issued over the summer as part of the co-ordinator guide…etc. Currently, a candidate who achieves a notional 45% or above in a national course would receive an award (candidates above a notional 50% receive an A-C award; candidates achieving a notional 45%-49% at present receive a D award). Grade D attainment will therefore be broadened from the current position to notional 40%-49%. This ten per cent range brings a Grade D award into line with the ranges for Grades B and C. This move is intended to ensure that young people who do not achieve at the level predicted in the course assessment receive credit for their achievement at the SCQF level of the qualification for which they were entered.
- Centres will be able to use current mechanism or recognising positive achievement through fallback to National 4 where a candidate achieves less than 40% Centres will be able to present candidates for units that were formerly part of National 5 and the full revised National 5 course This pathway will be available as an interim measure only, until any changes to the assessment of National 4 have been introduced The mechanism agreed by the Assessment and Qualifications Group for RPA going forward will be the extension of Grade D to include candidates who achieve between 40–49%. Guidance on entering and resulting for RPA will be issued over the summer as part of the co-ordinator guide…etc. Currently, a candidate who achieves a notional 45% or above in a national course would receive an award (candidates above a notional 50% receive an A-C award; candidates achieving a notional 45%-49% at present receive a D award). Grade D attainment will therefore be broadened from the current position to notional 40%-49%. This ten per cent range brings a Grade D award into line with the ranges for Grades B and C. This move is intended to ensure that young people who do not achieve at the level predicted in the course assessment receive credit for their achievement at the SCQF level of the qualification for which they were entered.
- Invites will be issued over the summer for this event on 24th August 2017. Joint Webinars – 19 June NQ Update 27th Sept – NQ Course Assessment and QA Update 4 October – NQ Unit Assessment Update Centres and authorities will be informed of changes through direct communications, Centre News and a dedicated web page www.sqa.org.uk/nqchanges
- Each LM will be in touch with college co-ordinators early May to offer this presentation to all relevant staff…