Dear Parents/Carers,

As you may have heard, there will no examinations at National 5 level this session. The SQA are set to publish subject level guidance after the October break. We anticipate that between two and four pieces of assessment per subject will be used to inform teacher judgements at National 5 level. SQA also intend to quality assure/moderate teacher judgements throughout the year.  At this stage, we anticipate that we will still run a prelim diet at National 5 level but will confirm this after the October break.

At Higher and Advanced Higher level, it is still the intention of the Scottish Government and SQA to run an exam diet in May 2021. However, the SQA yesterday published a number of alterations to each course at Higher and Advanced Higher level. Staff now need time to read the associated documentation but will communicate with young people to advise of alterations to course assessment as soon as possible.  In the event that the Scottish Government need to cancel exams at a later date, they have provided assurance that they will not do so any later than mid-February. For now we are to proceed on the basis that exams will run at Higher and Advanced Higher level in May. If they were to be cancelled we would revert to a similar certification process as that advised for National 5.

We thank you for your patience whilst teaching staff take some time this week and during the first week back after the October break to read the various guidance published yesterday. We also anticipate with keenness the release of the documentation which will clarify assessment procedures at National 5 level.

We will of course keep young people up to date with subject by subject matters and will send out more communication on SQA certification after the holiday period.

Kind Regards

Mr Kane