Our Vision Our vision is to be recognised nationally and internationally as a leader in qualification, assessment and verification.

OUR CORPORATE VALUES SQA will be known for being: Trusted Progressive Enabling

Outputs from external verification activity: Confirmation of the validity of the approach to assessment Confirmation of the reliability of assessment judgements Confirmation of the effectiveness of internal quality assurance Identification of good practice Provision of developmental advice Identification of materials which exemplify national standards The overall aim is to provide support and advice to our centres whilst ensuring that national standards are maintained.

WHY DO WE NEED VALUES SQA’s three corporate values define the way SQA staff work with each other and centre staff. Knowing what the corporate values are will help you understand how SQA would like you to engage with colleagues and staff in centres when carrying out your role. TRUSTED As an appointee, you play a key role in maintaining national standards ensuring the quality of assessment in your subject, carrying out verification and providing clear and professional reports to SQA centres. PROGRESSIVE You view new and unfamiliar approaches to assessment with an open mind whilst ensuring quality is maintained. You believe that creativity should be seen not as a threat to quality assurance but as an opportunity for improving on existing practice ENABLING You understand that by working in partnership with SQA centres you will achieve common goals of excellence and consistency in assessment. You maintain a professional approach at all times regardless of the challenges you might face in carrying out your work

THE ROLE OF THE EXTERNAL VERIFIER The role of the external verifier is not to reassess candidates work but to consider if the centre’s approach is valid and the assessment judgements reliable

AREAS OF CONCERN Communication – Oral and Written Tone Language Uncertainty –Centre isn’t sure what is being asked of them

Duties of an External Verifier Plan and conduct verification visits Ensure the validity and reliability of assessment instruments and reliability of assessment judgements Assess centres against verification criteria Make recommendations on the level of risk Set agreed actions plans Provide constructive feedback to centres and SQA Carry out follow up activity to ensure action plans are implemented Participate in training and CPD Sharing best practice

PERSONAL QUALITIES Listening and supporting Encouraging Advising Helping Motivating Diplomatic Empathetic Good communicator and listener Authoritive when required Know when to seek advice

FEEDBACK 1 Feedback starts at the beginning of the visit and continues throughout the visit. Yes, there may be a more formal feedback session at the end of the visit but it is vitally important that you view all discussions between you and centre staff as feedback. You can’t be saying one thing throughout the visit and then hit them with something different at the end. Encourage staff to ask for clarification and ask questions Preparing for more formal final feedback: Take time to structure and prepare for the more formal final feedback to centre staff Take time to consider the support you can offer the centre to improve processes

FEEDBACK 2 Check that all staff attending the final feedback are present before starting Thank centre staff for the preparations they have made for the visit, for engaging in interviews and discussions, for providing any additional evidence and for providing any additional evidence and for their hospitality. Provide an overview for each criteria Start with Positives Non Positive issues should be addressed in a supportive and constructive and manner – don’t use the term negative. Be specific not general – use the evidence gathered to cite examples to support your evaluations Outline what you have found to be good practice Outline any recommendations which will help to improve the process. Get the centre to agree to implement the recommendations and state this in the report.

FEEDBACK 3 Be clear on what the centre needs to do to resolve any actions and agree timelines All the time allow questions and discussion In your Report you must justify why they are Non Compliant Any agreed actions should be SMART We are now using Confidence Ratings instead of Significant Strengths Leave written evidence using the new summary of agreed action form Note the Event ID Tick box to indicate agreed action Leave a copy of the form If the Centre does not sign the agreed action form – Leave copy of the form and contact/inform SQA Logistics

RESISTANCE TO FEEDBACK You have made your decision – stand by your decision – pointing out again the evidence on which you are basing your decision Be authoritive but in a diplomatic way Be empathetic – supportive/encouraging/providing developmental advice

IMPACT OF POOR FEEDBACK HUGE CONSEQUENCES On Centre On Candidates On validity of you as an External Verifier – if Report is overturned or centre have not understood required actions. On reputation of SQA So unfair on other External Verifiers who are doing it properly

Workshop Exercise   In your group, consider the following scenarios; Your visit has concluded that all criteria has been met (Outcome Green) Your visit has concluded that some criteria has not been met i.e. 2.4/3.3/4.7 (Outcome Amber) Your visit has concluded that some criteria have not been met i.e. 4.2/4.3/4.6 (Outcome Red) Please discuss in your group how you would feed the above outcomes back to the centre on the day of the visit.