Friday 8 September 2006
Issue 9

School and College Co-ordinator Events 2006

As part of our on-going plans to keep customers up-to-date with our latest initiatives and projects, we will be holding five school co-ordinator events, and one college co-ordinator event in October and November. The events will be useful to the member of staff in your centre who is responsible for SQA matters.

Dates and locations of the events are listed below - aimed at schools unless indicated otherwise.

31 October Stirling (colleges)
1 November Inverness
3 November Edinburgh
6 November Glasgow
10 November Aberdeen
14 November Dumfries

Invitations and agendas were sent out at the end of August. Some of the items that will be covered are:

the new Scottish Qualifications Certificate (SQC) and the SCQF
External Assessment
Skills for Work
Portfolio Review

Professional Development Workshops

We are running the following Professional Development Workshops in September:

A User’s Guide to Grade Boundary Meetings - 13 September in Glasgow and 27 September in Dalkeith
National Qualifications: Understanding Standards in English Standard Grade - 16 September in Glasgow
National Qualifications: Understanding Standards in English Higher - 30 September in Glasgow

If any of these workshops would help with your Continuing Professional Development, please access the link below for further information and our registration form. Alternatively, call our Customer Contact Centre on 0845 279 1000 where someone will be happy to help.

Find out more about these events.

SQA gets SETT for the Scottish Learning Festival

SETT 2006, the Scottish Learning Festival, is the annual educational conference and exhibition providing inspiration for better teaching and learning. As the festival grows, so too does the Scottish Education Village, which now brings together Learning and Teaching Scotland, the Scottish Executive Schools Group, HMIE and SQA.

Find out more about the festival.

NQ Group Awards Event

We are in the early stages of plans to host a conference for National Qualification Group Awards (National Certificates and National Progression Awards) in January 2007. We will keep you updated with the details in future issues of the e-zine.

Tell us what you think
We hope you find our monthly e-zine interesting and useful to your work.

Please let us know what you think and how we can improve it.

Feedback.

Core Skills - we need your help

As you may be aware, over the last couple of years we have been encouraging centres, where possible, to submit examples of their practice in Core Skills delivery and assessment.

Our intention is to keep building on the success of the Understanding Standards website and also to continue publishing exemplification on our website, and in hard copy, where appropriate. We have had some success in this area, with increased exemplification in the college and workplace sectors.

We are asking you, where possible, to consider sending us examples of learners' work (with their permission), and of how you deliver and assess Core Skills in your centre for publication on our Understanding Standards website. This exemplification will assist other centres to set up or build on their own experiences.

Go on, this is your opportunity to shine.

New National Courses in English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)
Two launch events for the new National Courses at Higher and Intermediate 2 in English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) were held in Glasgow and Inverness in May. We had over 150 delegates representing schools, colleges, Local Education Authorities, community learning development partnerships, and voluntary organisations across Scotland.

We are keen to offer as much support as possible to existing, and potential new centres, as they start to implement the Units and Courses. If you wish to find out what support is available please use the link below or call the NQ ESOL team on 0845 213 5519.

Find out more.

Higher National Modernisation Project

The HN Modernisation Programme has passed a significant milestone with the lifting of conditions on a group of Built Environment Higher Nationals. We have now validated 108 consortium developments, with a further four awaiting the lifting of conditions. A huge ‘Congratulations and thank you!’ to everyone involved. We are well on the way to completing this part of the Programme by December 2006.

Access the current Status Report.

Higher National Support Materials
An interactive spreadsheet has been developed which will enable centres to check what HN Support Materials have been produced or are in production for those Units modernised under the HN Modernisation Project. This has been funded by both the HN Project Board and by the European Social Fund.

Access the spreadsheet.

Challenge Fund 2006

The Partners in Learning in Scotland initiative has completed the second round of its annual small grants awards, where cash grants, of up to £2,000 are made available for classroom teachers to support innovative projects that use ICT (in its widest sense).

The grants are being made through a partnership between Microsoft and SQA under Microsoft's Partners in Learning initiative. This is a five-year global initiative, sponsored by the Corporate Vice-President of the World-Wide Public Sector of Microsoft Corporation. The programme lies within Microsoft’s broader Citizenship activities.

Find out who the awards went to.

Determind to Succeed

'Determined to Succeed' is the Scottish Executive’s strategy for enterprise in education. It aims to help Scotland’s young people develop self-confidence, self-reliance and ambition to achieve their goals - in work and in life.

Find out more.

Click here to view the National Qualifications section of SQA's website.

Click here to view the Higher National section of SQA's website.

Welcome back to our e-zine 'Connecting with SQA'. We hope you had a good summer. We have many items of news to share with you and we hope you find it interesting - please use the feedback link below to tell us what you think.

Farewell from our Chief Executive

PHOTO: Anton Colella, SQA Chief Executive This will be the last SQA
e-zine before I leave for pastures new at the end of the month.

I am glad to use this opportunity to thank everyone for the support and encouragement you have given to SQA and me personally over the past 5 years. It has been a remarkable journey, made all the more memorable by the marvellous backing given by you, our customers. I invite you to keep on influencing and challenging SQA to deliver for you.

There are significant challenges ahead for SQA and Scotland’s education and training in the coming years. The ultimate goal remains that we must continue to develop an education and training system that supports Scotland’s learners well and is the envy of many. I know SQA will continue to play its part in this and I shall be watching with much pride and a little sadness, as these developments progress.

Best wishes

Anton Colella
Chief Executive

Highlands and Islands Strategy

PHOTO: Highlands and Islands Strategy.

We recently launched our first regional strategy for action in the Highlands and Islands. It has been developed in conjunction with local partners and stakeholders as a follow-up to last year’s fact-finding visit to the area by our Board of Management. It draws on the Highlands and Islands Enterprise Network’s existing economic development strategy for the region – 'A smart, successful Highlands and Islands'.

The strategy recognises that the different parts of Scotland have diverse needs and opportunities. Through it, we plan to deliver a more 'joined-up' service to the Highlands and Islands, focusing strongly on the area’s special priorities.

The strategy also aims to find ways to develop new qualifications in areas of particular importance to the Highlands and Islands. Areas already identified include Creative Industries; Science and Technology – including sustainable energy and waste recycling; Health Care; Construction; and Traditional Culture and Music.

In developing this joint programme of work for the Highland and Islands, we have already formed a strategic alliance with the UHI Millennium Institute, and at its launch, we signed a Memorandum of Understanding that publicly and symbolically binds us both to partnership working in specific areas.

New Professional Development Awards in Policing

In partnership with the Scottish Police Service, we have recently developed diplomas in Police Service Leadership and Management, Crime and Intelligence Analysis, and Community Safety and Crime Reduction. These new diplomas are for police officers, police support staff and others employed in partner agencies, and they will be delivered via the Scottish Police College, Tulliallan.

They are aimed at those already employed within the Police Service in Scotland who do not possess a relevant vocational qualification, or who wish to update their existing qualifications as part of their Continuing Professional Development activity. Each diploma is made up of mandatory Units at SCQF level 8.

The first PDAs in Community Safety and Crime Reduction and in Crime and Intelligence Analysis will be delivered in Autumn 2006. The Diploma in Police Service Leadership and Management will be launched in April 2007. From 2009, this diploma will replace the current Police (Scotland) Promotion Examination.

From HNC to Medical School

We are delighted to report that a partnership between Perth College and St Andrew's University allows HNC candidates to progress to Medicine. Applicants to the year-long Perth College Applied Sciences HNC must be over the age of 21 and have no tradition of university study in their immediate family. Successful entrants will study Chemistry, Microbiology and Human Physiology during the one-year HNC in Applied Sciences.

At the end of the year, the most successful five of the sixteen students who start the course will be admitted to study at the Bute Medical School in St Andrews. The move has been welcomed by former UK Chief Medical Officer Sir Kenneth Calman and by Dr Alan Robertson of the British Medical Association's Scottish Council.

Coming soon.....SQA Annual Awards

Can we share in your success?

Our Annual Awards Ceremony which recognises the very best in creativity, innovation, partnership and personal achievement, will be held on Monday 20 November 2006 in Edinburgh. Now firmly established as our premier annual event, the Ceremony provides a showcase to acknowledge to Scotland the simply magnificent work and individuals who deliver and study SQA qualifications.

Behind every success there is a story to tell about motivation and commitment, pride and self-esteem and, of couse, sheer hard work. We want you to be part of this success in 2006!

Entering for an Award could not be easier. Just complete the application form and send it back to us. Nominations must be with us by Friday 6 October. Good Luck!

Nominate today.

Scotland's Colleges International Launch

PHOTO: Scotland's Colleges International Launch.

Scotland’s Colleges International (SCI), an independent organisation dedicated to supporting the international collaboration of Scotland’s colleges, was launched in June at the Association of Scotland’s Colleges Annual Conference.

SCI has been established by the college sector to provide the focus, capability and capacity that will enable Scotland’s colleges to expand, develop and promote their international activity. By pooling expertise, SCI will provide a scale of resource and expertise not available through individual colleges.

Anton Colella, SQA Chief Executive said: 'SQA are delighted to support this initiative which brings a new, collaborative international dimension to our on-going partnerships with colleges all across Scotland. We look forward to SCI playing a role in building on the already substantial international reputation that Scotland's education and qualifications systems already enjoy.'

Find out more.

E-only and E-enabled qualifications

The development of e-enabled and e-only qualifications will change how we do business and meet the expectations of our centres and candidates.

By ‘e-only’ qualifications we mean qualifications that could in practice be entirely delivered through ICT including the provision of e-learning and

e-assessment, including the end to end process of registration and certification.

To date we have 'e-enabled' qualifications (qualifications that are available in paper and on-line formats) such as PC Passport and Biotechnology. Centres can deliver these qualifications traditionally (using paper-based materials) or electronically (using digital teaching and learning material, and/or on-line assessments) or a mixture of these approaches (such as paper-based delivery and on-line assessment).

We are currently piloting an award in Internet Safety that takes us further towards an e-only qualification. The pilot will run from August to December and the qualification will be available to all centres from January 2007. We’re hoping that the lessons learned during this pilot will help move closer to 'e-only qualifications' in the coming years.

Find out more about our range of computer assisted assessment activities.

Core Quest Quiz

For two weeks in September, with the BBC, we will be piloting an exciting text quiz that will involve young people between the ages of 18 – 24 throughout Scotland. It's one of the many innovative ways we plan to help learners meet the challenges of everyday life through active participation in the five Core Skills of Communication, Numeracy, Working with Others, Problem Solving and ICT.

The aim of the quiz is to increase engagement with learning using BBC innovative technology to make learning a fun and interactive process. The quiz aims to attract young people already doing some learning in the community to ‘pair up’ with a friend who hasn’t engaged with learning, answer our quiz questions and win a prize!

The quiz is multiple choice, is supported by an online tutor, and will be based around mobile technology using texts as the medium for delivery. Questions will broadly cover the five Core Skills of Communication, Numeracy, Working with Others, Problem Solving and ICT.

An evaluation of the quiz will be published in one of our Research Bulletins towards the end of the year.

Find out more about Core Skills.

SCQF Credit Rating Service

Our ‘Credit Rating Service’ offers organisations the opportunity to have their provision positioned in the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF). It is delivered by a team of experienced internal staff and external subject experts who progress submissions through the credit rating and levelling process. On submission of a qualification or learning programme each organisation is allocated a dedicated member of staff who is on hand to offer help and advice.

Once they are credit rated and levelled on the SCQF, it is possible to compare qualifications and learning programmes of different types and to measure achievement more effectively. This ensures that both learners and employers are able to understand qualifications and learning programmes, and how an individual’s learning can progress. LOGO: SCQF.

If an organisation awards qualifications other than those currently in the Framework, or offers learning programmes not resulting in recognised qualifications, the SCQF provides a new opportunity to make these products more attractive and useful to learners.

Find out more.

New Access 3 Clusters in Social Subjects, Geography, Modern Studies and History

Social Subjects Access 3(C079 09)

A revised edition of the arrangements for the Cluster in Social Subjects is now available, together with the amended National Assessment Banks (NABs). Centres are advised to use these simplified NABs as instruments for Unit assessment. The NABs are available via your co-ordinator.

Geography, History and Modern Studies at Access 3 (C208 09, C044 09, C236 09)

A discrete Access 3 Cluster is now available in these three social subjects. Each consists of three 40-hour Units and follows a similar structure to the Courses at Intermediate 1. As they are Access 3 Clusters, they do not contain any external assessment.

We have also developed a NAB for each Unit in each subject, together with a toolkit that centres can use to customise their own NABs. These can be obtained from your Co-ordinator. Candidates can be entered for individual Units or for the Cluster.

Launch events were held to describe and exemplify the developments in both the Social Subjects and the discrete subject Clusters. For further details please contact:

Qualifications Managers Social Subjects

Larry Cheyne
larry.cheyne@sqa.org.uk
Tel: 0845 213 5500

Keith Wright
keith.wright@sqa.org.uk

Tel: 0845 213 5501

Invitation to colleges

As part of the Portfolio Review, we have started work on the development of new national non-advanced Group Awards (National Certificates and National Progression Awards). We hope that this work will build on the success of the partnership approach developed during the HN modernisation process.

As part of our communication plan, we would welcome the opportunity to deliver a session on the forthcoming plans for the National Certificate and National Progression Awards developments to curriculum planners and other interested staff in colleges.

If you would like us to come to your college for such a session, which will last approximately two hours (including questions), please contact Robert Quinn at Robert.quinn@sqa.org.uk.

Find out more about this work.

Centres Now Eligible to Register with ILA Scotland

We are delighted to announce that our approved centres can now apply to register to become part of the Individual Learning Account (ILA) Scotland scheme, subject to minimum criteria.

Minimum requirements

you must have been an SQA approved centre for at least six months
you must agree to maintain SQA approval for the full duration of your ILA Scotland registration

How to register
Details of the registration process and contacts can be found on the ILA Scotland website via the link below. If you want to find out more, or request an application pack, please contact ILA Scotland’s learning provider helpline on 0141-285 6104.

Find out how to register.

Skills for Work

This year saw the introduction of Skills for Work Courses at Intermediate levels. These have been introduced on a pilot basis to enable students to become familiar with the world of work. Candidates are expected to take the Courses over two years. However, the Courses are flexible and to date 207 candidates have successfully completed them.

The Courses involve a strong element of learning through involvement in practical activities that are directly related to a particular vocational area. They develop knowledge and skills that are important to employment. Skills for Work Courses are assessed by the school or college and are quality assured by SQA.

In a survey, many completing candidates said that they had enjoyed their Course and had learned a lot from it. They particularly enjoyed the practical work and felt it helped them prepare for the world of work.

Find out more.

Understanding Standards

We are delighted to have had the opportunity to work with North Lanarkshire Council and Outward Bound’s Scottish Centre at Loch Eil to produce some new exemplar material for the Core Skill of Working with Others at Access 3/Intermediate 1. This includes new video exemplification and is the final showcase that allows us to launch Working with Others on our Understanding Standards website.

The Understanding Standards website gives teachers and lecturers valuable online access to assessment guidelines for their subjects, and the opportunity to develop their own assessment skills online.

Take a look.

Forthcoming Developments for English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)

LOGO: ESOL.

There are a number of developments in English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) to note:

The National Assessment Bank (NAB) CDs with listening materials for the Units and the Specimen Listening CDs and Specimen Question Papers for Higher and Intermediate 2 Courses are now available.
Learning support materials for National Courses at Intermediate 2 and Higher should be available from the end of this month.
E-enabled National Assessment Bank materials are currently being developed and we will have more news about these in the next issue of the e-zine.
Revision of the Intermediate 1 and Access level Units will start this month in line with the revisions already completed for Intermediate 2 and Higher.

We will keep you updated on progress with these in future issues of the e-zine.

Find out more about these developments.

Health qualifications

We have been working for some time with NHS Education Scotland on the development of a training programme for staff in the grade of Assistant Practitioner in Radiography. The programme, which has been developed with participation by clinical departments and the appropriate Scottish universities and colleges, has now been validated. It consists of new HNCs and the Unit 'Work Role Effectiveness' with detailed specification of practical clinical competences.

It is planned to run the course for the first time during the next academic year at Dundee College and Stow College. These two colleges presented the programme to the Society and College of Radiographers (SCoR) for accreditation by that professional body.

Other Allied Health Profession developments are in the pipeline and should be validated in the coming year. We will keep you updated.

Find out more.

Advisory Council at Dundee College

PHOTO: Advisory Council at Dundee College.

Our Advisory Council had their June meeting at Dundee College, the first in their programme of visiting Scotland's colleges. During their visit they met many of the students and staff, visited an Art and Design exhibition, attended a special performance by theatre art students, and enjoyed a dinner prepared by catering students.

Find out more.

Assessment Arrangements for Candidates with Disabilities and/or Additional Support Needs

There are a number of developments in this area:

National Seminars
In June we held a series of seminars across the country to provide practitioners with the opportunity to network, discuss issues and share good practice. The feedback was very positive with the majority of delegates responding that they had found the events beneficial.

New Software for the Submission of Requests for Assessment Arrangements
In 2007, we intend to introduce new assessment arrangement software. All centres presenting candidates for National Qualifications and Standard Grade Courses will be able to access a secure website which will allow them to upload entry data and assessment arrangements. A series of launch events on the new software will take place in mid September. For further information, contact Carole Forrest: (telephone: 0131-271 6758; e-mail: carole.forrest@sqa.org.uk)

Digital Question Papers Pilot 2006
In the 2006 diet, we piloted a limited number of digital adapted question papers, which eight centres requested for a total of thirty-three candidates with disabilities and/or additional support needs. A full evaluation of the pilot is currently being undertaken, but feedback has been very positive. For further details, contact Sheila Rennie: (telephone: 0131-561 6805; e-mail: sheila.rennie@sqa.org.uk)

Consultation about Regulations on Extension of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 1995 to Cover General Qualifications Bodies
This consultation seeks views on two sets of draft regulations made under Section 15 of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 2005 regarding the extension of the DDA 1995 to cover general qualifications bodies. The consultation will start on Monday 4 September and all responses must be received in the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) by Wednesday 29 November. It is available via the DfES consultations website: http://www.dfes.gov.uk/consultations

Find out more about Assessment Arrangements.

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