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

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

3. 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.

4. 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

5. 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

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

7. 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

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

9. 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

10. 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.

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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.