In this bulletin:-

• Further Understanding Standards packs published
• National Qualifications (NQ) verification: round 2 key messages
• National Qualifications (NQ) exam diet 2016
• Updated documents for new Advanced Higher Courses
• Updated documents and Unit assessment support for National 3 to Higher
• Nominee Case Studies
• Feedback for Undersanding Standards National 5 Course events 2014/2015
• Understanding Standards Higher Course events 2015/2016
• Understanding Standards National 1 to National 5 events 2015/2016
• Feedback from Advanced Higher Subject Implementation events
• Higher Understanding Events
• Star Awards 2015
• NQ verification: round 2 key messages
• New Understanding Standards packs
• Existing Understanding Standards packs and prior-verified materials
• Prior verification
• Lifeskills Mathematics — SOLAR e-assessments
• HN Marketing
• SQA College Co-ordinator Conference 2015
• SQA National Certificate – Case Study
• New social sciences blog
• Jisc e-assessment survey
• Upcoming NQ key dates

SQA CENTRE NEWS

·         Further Understanding Standards packs published

We are continuing to publish Understanding Standards packs for National 1 to Higher. These packs contain examples of candidate evidence which has been gathered from Unit assessments during session 2014/2015. The evidence is accompanied by a commentary that explains why the evidence has or has not met the required standards for the Unit.

Earlier this month, we started to publish the latest release of Understanding Standards packs and we will continue to publish further packs until the end of June. A small number of packs will be published in July.

The Understanding Standards programme is intended to help teachers and lecturers develop their understanding of the national standards required for assessment in the new National Qualifications. The programme will continue in session 2015/2016 and more information can be found at www.sqa.org.uk/understandingstandards

·         National Qualifications (NQ) verification: round 2 key messages

We are aiming to publish all subject-specific key messages from round 2 verification activity on oursubject pages by the end of June 2015.  We have already begun publishing key messages, and the following subjects are now available:

• Accounting
• Administration and IT
• Biology
• Care
• Drama
• English & Communication
• ESOL
• French
• Geography
• History
• Italian
• Lifeskills Mathematics
• Mandarin
• Mathematics
• Media
• Modern Studies
• Music
• Music Technology
• Religious, Moral and Philosophical Studies
• Science
• Spanish

We will publish key messages for more subjects throughout June. Please check the subject pages regularly for more updates.  We hope that teachers and lecturers will find this information helpful when assessing their candidates and when preparing for future rounds of verification.

·         National Qualifications (NQ) exam diet 2016

Following the conclusion of the 2015 exam diet, we can now confirm that the 2016 National Qualifications exam diet will begin on 4 May 2016 and finish on 3 June 2016. Results for the 2016 exams will be issued on Tuesday 9 August 2016.

 

·         Updated documents for new Advanced Higher Courses

In April and May, we updated our Course Specifications, Unit Specifications, Course Assessment Specifications and Course/Unit Support Notes for the new Advanced Higher Courses. We also updated packages 1 and 2 of Unit assessment support, following the publication of package 3 at the end of April. The updated documents are available now and we advise teachers and lecturers to use the latest versions of these documents when delivering the new Advanced Higher Courses to candidates.  Find out more…

·         Updated documents and Unit assessment support for National 3 to Higher

In April and May, we updated the Course Specifications, Unit Specifications, Course Assessment Specifications and Course and Unit Support Notes for some subjects from National 3 to Higher. More information on the changes to these documents is provided in the May 2015 subject updates, which are available from the subject pages of our website. These can be found in the ‘Update letters’ section of the relevant subject pages. Teachers and lecturers are advised to make sure they use the most up-to-date versions of these materials with their candidates in session 2015/2016. We are also updating Unit assessment support packs for some National 3 to Higher Courses, following the revisions made to Unit Specifications. The updated packs will be published by the end of August 2015.

·         Nominee Case Studies

We recently filmed three SQA nominees from schools in different local authorities, who spoke about their experiences of being a nominee. We also spoke to representatives from these local authorities to learn more about their approaches to the nominee selection process.  The videos are available to view on our website at www.sqa.org.uk/nomineevideos

• Feedback for Undersanding Standards National 5 Course events 2014/2015

Last session, we held Understanding Standards events for National 5 Courses from November 2014 to February 2015. There were 91 events, attended by 3,892 delegates. The events focused on supporting teachers and lecturers to develop their understanding of the national standards required for Course assessment, including question papers and coursework tasks. Feedback has been highly positive, with over 90% of attendees saying that the content of the events, and the materials provided, were effective or highly effective. Attendees said:

“I found this course to be extremely useful.”

“I would be very interested in attending a similar course for the Higher (Course) if it is available next year.”

“Very useful exercise in understanding standards.”

• Understanding Standards Higher Course events 2015/2016

We are hosting a series of Understanding Standards events for Higher Course assessment. These events will run from October 2015 to January 2016 and are for subject specialists in schools and colleges who wish to develop their understanding of the standards required in the Course assessment at Higher. They will provide delegates with the opportunity to review and discuss candidate evidence, discuss the allocation of marks for this evidence and to discuss their understanding of standards with colleagues and senior Examining Team members.

Places are limited to one delegate per centre, so please book early to avoid disappointment.

Attendance at these events can be used to contribute to Continuing Professional Development (CPD). CPD certificates will be issued to attendees after each event. Details of the event dates are available from the following link:

Understanding Standards Programme of Events 2015/2016

Arrangements for the following subjects are being finalised and will be open for booking soon. Please check www.sqa.org.uk/cfeevents and our Events Booking System for updates.

• Computing Science
• French
• Gaelic
• Gàidhlig
• German
• Italian
• Latin
• Mandarin
• Media
• Spanish
• Urdu

Book your place today

·         Understanding Standards National 1 to National 5 events 2015/2016

We are hosting a series of Understanding Standards events for a selection of Courses, Awards and Units from National 1 to National 5.

The events will run from August 2015 and will focus on the standards and assessment of the relevant Course, Award or Unit. The following events are scheduled:

• National 1 and National 2
• Design and Manufacture (National 4 and National 5)
• Literacy (National 3 to National 5)
• People and Society (National 3 and National 4)
• Hospitality: Practical Cookery (National 5)

Places are limited to one delegate per centre, so please book early to avoid disappointment. Attendance at these events can be used to contribute to Continuing Professional Development (CPD). CPD certificates will be issued to attendees after each event.  Find out more

·         Feedback from Advanced Higher Subject Implementation events

We held 76 Advanced Higher Subject Implementation Events from January 2015 to April 2015. The events, which were led by our Qualifications Development staff, provided updates on Course delivery and assessment, and were attended by over 3,000 delegates. All of the events were interactive and provided delegates with the opportunity to engage in workshop sessions and discussions. Feedback has been highly positive, with 95% of attendees saying they will put what they learned at the event into practice.

• Higher Understanding Events

The Higher Understanding Standards Events are now open for booking for most subjects, there are just a few where we are still confirming venues and they will be available asap. I wanted to highlight this to you as I can see that the events are filling up quickly and early booking is recommended, particularly if there is a preferred location. Here is the link for the events, as before there is one place per centre .http://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/74388.html
The nominations for our STAR awards close on 26th June. Information on the categories, which this year includes nominees, and how to nominate is herehttp://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/73966.html

• Star Awards 2015

Our annual Star Awards are a unique way to celebrate Success, Triumph, Achievement and to Recognise the best in education and training. We hope that you have considered making a nomination to celebrate the achievements of your colleagues and candidates. Behind every success story lies motivation and commitment, pride and self-esteem and, of course, sheer hard work. See the stars come out — nominate your stars today www.sqa.org.uk/star  Closing date for entries is Friday 26 June 2015. If you have any enquiries about the nomination process please call our Events team on 0345 213 5580.

• NQ verification: round 2 key messages

We are aiming to publish all subject-specific key messages from the second round of verification on our subject pages by the end of June 2015. Verification key messages are already available for the following subjects:

Accounting	National 5 and Higher
Administration and IT	National 4
Biology	National 4
Care	National 4
Drama	National 4
English	National 4
ESOL	National 4, National 5
French	National 4, National 5 and Higher
Geography	National 4
History	National 4
Italian	National 4, National 5 and Higher
Lifeskills Mathematics	National 4
Mandarin	National 5 and Higher
Mathematics	National 4
Media	National 4
Modern Studies	National 4
Music	National 4
Music Technology	National 4
RMPS	National 4
Science	National 4
Spanish	National 4, National 5 and Higher

We will be publishing key messages for more subjects throughout the month. Please check Centre News for updates. We hope that teachers and lecturers will find this information helpful when assessing their candidates and when preparing for future rounds of verification.

·         New Understanding Standards packs

Economics	Higher
English	National 5, Higher
ESOL	National 4
Health & Food Technology	National 3, National 5
Music	Higher
Psychology	National 5

These packs cover Unit assessment and internally-assessed components of Course assessment. They are available from SQA’s secure website, and teachers and lecturers can arrange access to them through their SQA Co-ordinator.

·         Existing Understanding Standards packs and prior-verified materials

In April 2015, we updated the Unit Specifications for some Courses from National 3 to Higher. Please note that where changes have been made to a Unit Specification, any associated Understanding Standards packs will be revised. In addition, prior-verified assessments which are no longer valid for the latest version of the Unit Specification will be removed from our secure website. Teachers and lecturers are advised to check that any Understanding Standards packs or prior-verified materials they have previously downloaded are up-to-date and still in publication. Where applicable, we are updating some of the corresponding Unit assessment support packs to include the changes made to Unit Specifications, and these will be published by August 2015. Further information and details of the materials affected will be provided to centres in August 2015.

• Prior verification

The Prior Verification Service opened on 1 June and will be available until 30 June. We will continue to upload prior-verified materials during this period. Your centre should submit the instruments it has used, or intends to use, for assessment when seeking prior verification. You will be required to submit these assessments should you be selected for further verification activity. The Prior Verification Service will open again on 17 August and will be available until 18 December. Further information is available atwww.sqa.org.uk/cfedelivery. If you have any queries about prior verification please e-mailnqpv@sqa.org.uk or call 0345 213 6766.

·         Lifeskills Mathematics — SOLAR e-assessments

From 1 August 2015, all SOLAR e-assessments for Lifeskills Mathematics at National 3, 4 and 5 will be structured to assess at Outcome level. There will continue to be whole-Unit versions available, each with a 60% Outcome-level threshold. Using the reports available in SOLAR, assessors will be able to see how candidates have performed against each Assessment Standard. If a candidate does not achieve the Outcome, they can still be judged at Assessment Standard level within SOLAR. Tables showing the impact of these changes are available from the Updates and Announcements section of the relevant Lifeskills Mathematics subject pages.

• HN Marketing

Due to a security breach, the current Assessment Support Pack (ASP) for the HN Unit F7BX34 Marketing: An Introduction will be removed from the UK secure site this week. A revised ASP will be developed over the summer for centres to use from August 2015. If you have any queries regarding this, please contact margo.sykes@sqa.org.uk orelaine.snell@sqa.org.uk

·         SQA College Co-ordinator Conference 2015

We are hosting an SQA Co-ordinator conference for colleges on 27 August 2015 in Edinburgh. The conference will give delegates the opportunity to find out more about the delivery of the new National Qualifications and the associated operational procedures. Places are limited to two per college campus; please send your most appropriate representatives.  Book your place today

• SQA National Certificate – Case Study

SQA has produced a short film in collaboration with Glasgow School College Business Partnership. The partnership offers SQA’s National Certificate in Electrical Engineering through its one year scholarship programme, providing a unique pathway into a range of engineering occupations for S5 and S6 pupils in Glasgow. The scholarship combines school and college-based study with learners undertaking work experience placements.  More about the NC Engineering case study         Find out about SQA National Certificates

• New social sciences blog

SQA’s new blog to support qualifications in social sciences was launched earlier this month.      http://blogs.sqa.org.uk/socialsciences/    We will be using the blog to post key information regarding developments and events for the following qualifications:

• NQ Psychology, Sociology, Politics, Philosophy
• NC Social Sciences
• HN Social Sciences
• PDAs in Social Sciences

Please share this information with all social sciences colleagues.

 

• Jisc e-assessment survey

Jisc is a charity that promotes the use of digital technologies in education and research. It is currently researching how organisations involved in the delivery of post-16 vocational qualifications are managing e-assessment and how they see it developing over the next five years. This research is being undertaken in the light of all the developments and initiatives being planned by governments and agencies across the UK. SQA, together with a number of other organisations, including the College Development Network, has been working with Jisc to develop a Scottish version of the survey.  We would like to invite you to complete the survey. It’s aimed at organisations that deliver vocational qualifications to learners who are at least 16 years old — in schools, colleges, training facilities or the workplace.  The information you provide will be treated anonymously and the survey reports will not identify any individual or organisation. Respondents who provide their e-mail address will be sent a copy of the summary report. You can also provide your e-mail address if you are happy to be contacted to take part in a further telephone interview.  The deadline for the survey is Tuesday 30 June 2015. It should take no more than 20–30 minutes to complete.  Take the survey here If you have received an invitation from another organisation — you only need to complete the survey once!  Thank you in advance for completing the survey. Your views are most valuable.

• Upcoming NQ key dates

30 June 2015

Final date for resolution of verification holds and submission of any associated outstanding results to allow for August certification.