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National 4 and 5 Qualifications

New qualifications at SCQF levels 4 and 5

SQA candidates.New qualifications were announced in June 2009 by the Cabinet Secretary. Called National 4 and National 5, they will replace Standard Grade General and Credit, and Intermediate 1 and 2 qualifications.

National 4 and National 5 will offer increased flexibility, provide more time for learning, more focus on skills and applying learning, and more scope for personalisation. They will meet the needs of all learners as they progress from their broad, general education through the qualifications framework to other learning and to employment.

SQA warmly welcomes the announcement and looks forward to developing the new qualifications in partnership with the teaching profession, Scottish Government, and national and local partners.

Curriculum for Excellence

The new National Qualifications will play a key role in helping to deliver the values, principles and purposes of Curriculum for Excellence.  They will help raise standards of achievement, improve learning experiences, and develop skills for learning, life and work.

Young people and adult learners will benefit from qualifications that support the curriculum rather than lead it.  They will experience a better planned and a better connected educational experience.

The assessment will promote breadth and depth of understanding.  It will motivate and challenge learners, and ensure that they can move smoothly from a broad, general education into learning that leads to qualifications.

For more information about the design of National 4 and 5 and assessment, read the Design Principles for National Courses, which are the blueprint for developing the new qualifications.