2. Matthew McCullagh
Quality Manager

3. Matthew McCullagh Quality Manager
(and the most popular left-handed person in Shanghai)

4. Quality Assurance Update

5. External Verification Messages
Overall, the picture across China is improving
Fewer non-compliances in QV and SV
Where non-compliances are identified, centres are generally taking the right action to rectify the issues first time
However, there are still some key messages for centres to understand and consider……..

6. Qualification Verification Messages
Validity and reliability of assessment are still causing non-compliances at external verification
Lack of effective internal verification is also an issue
There are lots of SQA resources available!
- SQA Guide to Assessment
- SQA Academy Course
- Guidance on HND Graded Units
- SQA Guidance on Internal Verification
- SQA IV Toolkit
- And of course….. this conference!!!!!!

7. Security of Assessment Instruments
There is continuing evidence of staff giving candidates over-direction and access to assessments and marking schemes.
This is malpractice and is likely to be identified during external verification.

8. Security of Assessment Instruments
Where it is identified, the centre will not be allowed to use the same assessment in the future.
SQA will require them to produce a new assessment and have it prior verified.
Security of assessments is an essential part of qualification approval.
Qualification Approval may be removed in extreme cases.

9. Systems Verification Messages
Some centres are copying and pasting SQA guidance on centre/staff malpractice.
Some centres are confused about escalation of assessment related candidate complaints.
Some centres do not have documented processes for data management.

10. Sending Evidence to SQA
Submit when ready – don’t wait till agreed action date
Don’t submit the same evidence over and over again
Match evidence to non compliant criteria
Don’t ignore agreed action dates
Please send one file containing all evidence where possible
If sending more than 1 for evidence, link them in the subject header
Clearly identify which QV event evidence submitted relates to.

12. Process for Validation of Student Entries
Student undertakes English language qualification
Centre
Centre validates student achievement, to required result, prior to entry for HND
By 31 October 2016 all entries, for validated students, should be sent to SQA . After this date late entry fees will apply
SQA
By 2 November 2016 SQA will issue spreadsheet to each centre, listing their students entered for the HND, on SQA's system, with completion date of 2018
By 14 November 2016 centres will update and return to SQA the spreadsheet with the required information, against each student,
By 30 November 2016 SQA will validate each student's scores with the appropriate English language institution
Any student SQA is not able to validate, for what ever reason, will have the HND entries withdrawn