Deciding whether to develop or revise a qualification
Before commencing the development or revision of an existing qualification, you should look at the list of existing qualifications in SQA's National (671 KB) and Higher National (426 KB) catalogues and consider the following questions before embarking on any review:
- is the qualification substantially different from other frameworks (ie is it unique)? For example, does it require a different mandatory and optional structure?
- Could your proposed qualification be accommodated within an existing Group Award by adding a few options? If so, you should contact the Qualifications Manager using the following DAVAL 2 form - Alterations to an existing Group Award and/or Units (148 KB)
- Are you able to provided evidence that the qualification would be of local or national significance?
- Will it be viable? What is the likely number of entries?
Note
It is important that you have support from your centre's senior management to carry out the development or revision of the qualification. Commitment to the project will involve staff time and resources, and will usually have budgetary and staff development implications.
If your centre gives informal approval to proceed you should continue, but if they do not you should reconsider your proposal. SQA will assume that the centre's senior management approves of any developments proceeding past this point.