New Qualifications
Update for Parents/Carers
New Resources for Parents
A new series of film clips, aimed at parents, has been added to the parents section of the SQA website: www.sqa.org.uk/cfeforparents.
The clips feature Dr John Allan, Policy Manager at SQA, and answer some of the most common questions from parents about the new qualifications.
Developed Qualifications – 30 April 2012
By 30 April 2012, the final documents for the qualifications from National 2 – Higher will be published on our website.
We have been publishing draft documents at each stage of the development process for review and feedback and have carried out extensive engagement with many different groups and individuals.
This feedback has been taken on board in the production of the final documents.
Qualifications in Development
Advanced Higher
We have now begun developing the new Advanced Higher qualifications which will be introduced in 2015/16 and the first draft documents (the Course Rationales and Summaries, the blueprint for the new Advanced Highers) have been published.
Use the subject drop-down menu at www.sqa.org.uk/curriculumforexcellenceto find the documents for each subject.
Advanced Higher qualifications will be developed in the same way as the other qualifications – our diagram shows the process – www.sqa.org.uk/developmentstages.
You can give your feedback via Have Your Say – www.sqa.org.uk/haveyoursay.
Advanced Highers allow young people to take the skills, knowledge and understanding they have already acquired from previous study to a deeper and more challenging level.
The fundamental features and characteristics of current Advanced Higher Courses will be preserved in the new and revised Courses.
Find out more about Advanced Higher – www.sqa.org.uk/advancedhigher
Feedback
The latest summaries of feedback we have received on the new qualifications have now been published at www.sqa.org.uk/yourfeedback.
Music Courses
Following our recent engagement with stakeholders – including schools, colleges and practitioners- about a new proposed assessment structure in Music Courses, we would like to confirm the original proposed weighting (60% Performance/40% Question Paper) in National 5 and Higher courses will remain. Composing skills will be assessed in Unit assessment.
New Courses in Music Technology (National 3 to Higher)
Following close working with key partners and stakeholders, we are pleased to announce new Courses has been developed in Music Technology. The new Courses will complement the Music Courses and there will be opportunities to deliver them at the same time. Following publication of the final documents at the end of April, SQA and Education Scotland will provide support, advice and guidance on learning, teaching and assessment of the new Music Technology courses.
CfE Events
To continue to support teachers with the new qualifications, SQA is hosting 10 Curriculum Area events in Stirling in May 2012.
The events are supported by Education Scotland and will update teachers on the latest developments.
Further events will take place in September 2012 and subject-specific events will take place between October 2012 and March 2013.
Our CfE Liaison team are continuing to support local events. You may meet some of our team at parents’ nights: www.sqa.org.uk/cfeteam
Scottish Survey of Literacy and Numeracy (SSLN)
The Scottish Survey of Literacy and Numeracy (SSLN) is a national sample-based survey which monitors performance in literacy and numeracy in alternate years.
The first numeracy survey took place in 2011 and the report has now been published: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2012/03/5285.
The first literacy survey takes place in 2012.
