Update from SQA Development of Qualifications Qualifications available to support young people requiring More Choices, More Chances Michelle Sharpe SQA MCMC Customer Liaison Manager More Choices, More Chances

SQA CfE Qualifications Developments And Wider Achievement Qualifications LTS – Transitions Roadshow MCMC Customer Liaison Manager

Curriculum for Excellence Qualifications Development Update

Literacy and numeracy  Freestanding Units at SCQF levels 3, 4 and 5 (available to adult learners also)  A Literacy Unit to be included in English Courses at SCQF levels 3 and 4 (Access 3 and National 4)  A Numeracy Unit to be included in Mathematics Courses at SCQF levels 3 and 4 (Access 3 and National 4)  Some, not all, literacy/numeracy skills included in English and Mathematics at SCQF 5 (National 5) – no certification unless learner also completes freestanding Unit

New National Courses: design Design principles agreed for National Courses from Access to Advanced Higher  National 4 – replaces Standard Grade (General) and Intermediate 1  National 5 – replaces Standard Grade (Credit) and Intermediate 2  Courses will be 160 hours (as at present)

New National Courses: design  Access, Higher and Advanced Higher will be revised to reflect aims, values, principles of Curriculum for Excellence and provide good progression to and from National 4 and National 5 Units in all Courses will be:  more skills-based and less prescriptive  more flexible to encourage holistic assessment where appropriate  more flexibility for teachers to exercise professional judgement

Timelines  2010 – new curriculum introduced  2012 – publication of new qualifications levels 1 to 6  2013 – last Standard Grades + current Access 1, 2 & 3; publication of new qualifications level 7  2014 – first new qualifications at levels 1 to 5 (Access and National 4 and 5); dual run’ with existing National Courses  2015 – first new qualifications at level 6 (Higher); ‘dual run’ with existing National Courses  2016 – first new qualifications at level 7 (Advanced Higher)

Wider Achievement Qualifications

 Alternative programmes  Certification for Achievement  CfE Ready  Senior Phase

Employability Award  1 credit Award  SCQF Levels 3 and 4  An Introduction to the world of work  Captures achievement in smaller chunks (0.25 credit units)

Personal Development National Units / Courses  Courses and units at SCQF 2-6  No external assessment so ungraded  Units embedded in other awards  Selection of learning and teaching materials available at SCQF 3, 4 and 6

Steps to Work Award SCQF 3&4  Minimum 2 credit award  2 sections: Person centred and Practical context  Flexible in size and structure (includes 0.25 credit units)  Pick and mix design

National Progression Award Enterprise & Employability L4-5  Vocational, linked to National Occupational Standards  Aims to develop transferable skills for employment or self employment  Captures achievement in smaller chunks (0.25 credit units)

Award in Leadership SCQF L5-6  Develops knowledge and abilities in leadership.  1.5 credit award consisting of two Units.  Can allow certification of extra curricular activities. –School prom –Charity events

Safe Road User Award SCQF L4  Developed with Driving Standards Agency  Entitles learners to partial exemption of DSA Driver Theory Test  Two 40 hour Units with free Learning and Teaching Packs and online assessment

Personal Finance Award, SCQF L4  Offered in partnership with the Institute of Financial Services (ifs).  Aims to provide a broad awareness and understanding of issues relating to personal finance  Learning & teaching materials and assessments are provided by ifs.  SOLAR e-assessment

Contacts MCMC Customer Liaison Managers Kelly Milford Tel: Michelle Sharpe Tel: Business Development Contact Dedicated regional BD teams. Tel:

Thank you Any questions?

Every young person is entitled to experience a senior phase where he or she can continue to develop the four capacities and also obtain qualifications. Building the Curriculum 3, page 15

Wherever the learning takes place Coherence Qualifications Skills Support Positive & sustained destinations Entitlements

Principles Personalisation and choice Coherence Relevance Challenge and enjoyment Breadth Progression Depth Aspects Ethos and life of the school Curriculum areas and subjects Interdisciplinary learning Opportunities for personal achievement Responsibility of all Literacy Numeracy Health and wellbeing Wide range of partners Schools Colleges and universities Third sector organisations Community learning and development Voluntary sector Designing a framework

Structuring the Senior PhaseQualifications over a variable timeframeStrategies for high attaining young peopleStrategies for those planning to leave in S4Opportunities for achievement in the Senior Phase Flexibility in curriculum design

Choice within curricular areas Electives will be offered to pupils in S2 and S3 All class sizes in S1-S3 will be of a practical class size, ie <20 Broad General Education S4/5/6 will be treated as a single cohort 5 subjects/courses – complete free choice Most learners will progress through courses for two years: S4-S5 Senior Phase Kirkland High School and Community College Urban, Roll 580

Balfron High School Rural, Roll 961 Transition year – all Es and Os S1 General for 18 months General+ January – July Masterclasses S2/3 Senior 1 – S4; Senior 2 – S5; Senior 3 – S6; Senior 4 – Jan-June S6 5 or 6 subject choice Senior Phase

Up to 10 subject choices with 3 period allocation Courses can be combined to provide a 6 period allocation Route A Choice of 5 courses with 6 period allocation to each column 5 periods to each course with additional period for other activities relating to achievement S4 pupils will undertake 2 year courses Route B Clydebank High School Urban, Roll 1,400

Charleston Academy Urban/rural, Roll 800 Pupils can study up to 8 subjects Possible to fast track to Higher English and Maths compulsory S4 Course choice is from 5 optional columns Timetabled to articulate with college structure S5/6

Specialisation, depth and rigourQualifications to the highest level attainableSkills for learning, skills for life and skills for workRange of activities which develop the four capacitiesPositive and sustained destinations Summary