Irvine Royal Academy March 2018 SQA Liaison Manager – Fiona Malone

Navigating the website National Qualifications Change to National 5 Coursework Navigating the website Understanding Standards

National Qualifications

SCQF Level Previous/Existing Replaced by Resulting Advanced Higher SG Credit/Int2 SG General/Int1 Access 3/SG Foundation Access 2 Access 1 Advanced Higher Higher National 5 National 4 National 3 National 2 National 1 Graded A-D Pass/Fail 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Assessment will be carried out using one or two of the following assessment methods: Assignment Case Study Practical Activity Performance Portfolio Project Question Paper/test Course assessment for N5, Higher and AH are externally marked by SQA, or internally marked and quality assured by SQA.

Unit Assessment Internally assessed by teachers Pupils can have two attempts There have to be exceptional circumstances for a third attempt Available as free standing units for National 5 17-18 For Higher 18-19 and Advanced Higher 19-20

Changes to National 5

Changes to National 5 Diet 2017/18 September 2016 - Deputy First Minister announces removal of units from National Courses: ‘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 workload created as a result of administering the units.’ - Scottish Government Policy Statement, March 2017 Discuss the fact that their older children may have had different experiences. Plus, if they have a child sitting Highers they’ll be doing units this year.

Removal of mandatory unit assessments Timeline Session 2017-18: National 5 Session 2018-19: Higher Session 2019-20: Advanced Higher You will see that the units are being removed over the next three years, starting with National 5 then Higher then Advanced Higher. Therefore this year group. (N4 is under review). These units are still available though as free standing SCQF level 5 units.

National 5 - changes to course assessment Very few changes to the aims, rationale or content of the courses Course assessments strengthened to ensure assessment of full content of course, following the removal of units This has resulted 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

Coursework

Coursework Assessment Conditions (English Writing Folio) It is acceptable for a teacher or lecturer to provide: an initial discussion with the candidate on the selection of a topic, theme, genre, leading to an outline plan written or oral feedback on one draft of writing

Coursework Assessment Conditions (English Writing Folio) It is not acceptable for a teacher or lecturer to provide: model answers which are specific to a candidate’s task specific advice on how to re-phrase wording key ideas, or a specific structure or plan corrections of errors in spelling and punctuation feedback on more than one draft of writing

Coursework Assessment Conditions (History) The production of evidence stage is conducted under a high degree of supervision and control. This means that: candidates must be in direct sight of the assessor (or other responsible person) during the period of the assessment candidates must not communicate with each other candidates should have access only to the History Resource Sheet My coursework leaflet issued to all centres to share with all candidates Sept of any session and also on our open website.

Navigating the Website

National 5 course documents IF INTERNET IS AVAILABLE DEMONSTRATE, DISCUSS THE DIFFERENT SECTIONS At this point discuss coursework and the importance of following the guidance FOR COURSEWORK AND HOW IT VARIES BETWEEN SUBJECTS. CHECK IF ‘MY COURSEWORK HAS BEEN RECEIVED AND DISTRIBUTED. DISCUSS PARENTAL/TUTOR INVOLVEMENT IN COURSEWORK

Exceptional Circumstances and Post Results Service Purpose Head of Centre decision Guides are on SQA connect and any queries regarding these services should be discussed with the management team within your school.

Understanding Standards

Understanding Standards Find this area of the website by scrolling to the bottom of any page on the website and you will see a grey menu band where you can choose Understanding Standards. This will allow you to see the level of work that is produced at each level under this system. The aims of the courses are all the same as they have been, it is only the way that they are assessed that is changing so this information is still very relevant to learners. IF INTERNET ACCESS IS AVAILABLE I WILL DEMONSTRATE

Understanding Standards

My SQA Register to get results by text at 8am. Great if going on holiday.

Study, Revision and Preparation Parentzone is organised into distinct and user-friendly areas covering issues that affect parents during the different stages of their children's education. https://education.gov.scot/parentzone General assessment information covering Coursework such as Assignment or Practical activity. Download these from SQA’s subject pages at www.sqa.org.uk/browsecfesubjects click the subject you are interested in and select National 5. www.sqa.org.uk/examtools BBC Bitesize: www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize Revision in a nutshell: www.npfs.org.uk

Mention nationals in a nutshell – being updated http://www.npfs.org.uk/nationals-in-a-nutshell/