- High Graphics
- Low Graphics
- Accessibility
- Resize text: AAA
Breadcrumb navigation:
- SQA Home
- > Curriculum for Excellence > How we got here > Design > Design Principles
Choose a subject
In this section
Design Principles
The design principles are the blueprint for developing the new qualifications.
They were signed-off by the Curriculum for Excellence Management Board and SQA’s Qualifications Committee.
The design principles stipulate that there will be new qualifications called National 4 and National 5 which will replace the qualifications that currently sit at SCQF levels 4 and 5 (Standard Grade, and Intermediate 1 and 2).
Access, Higher and Advanced Higher Courses will be revised to reflect the aims, values and principles of Curriculum for Excellence and to provide good progression to and from National 4 and National 5. National 3 Courses will replace Standard Grade Foundation level.
The new Courses will use a new type of Unit — more skills-based, less prescriptive, and more user-friendly. These Units will require knowledge and understanding as well as skills. Their specifications will be more flexible and open. They will have fewer, broader outcomes that encourage holistic assessment, and will rely on assessors to exercise professional judgment instead of having to satisfy long lists of criteria.
National 4, National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher Courses will be based on a notional 160 hours of study, and at all levels there will be flexibility in the number of Units. National 2 and National 3 Courses will be based on a notional 120 hours of study.
Download a copy of this summary (44 KB)
