Archive News

• SQA comments on Deputy First Minister's decision to cancel Higher and Advanced Higher exams

  The Deputy First Minister has announced that the 2021 National Qualifications examination diet has been cancelled.

• SQA National Courses - Delivering Results in 2020

  SQA provides an update on the estimates process it has developed to deliver this year's National Qualifications.

• Coronavirus updates

• Statement by the Chief Executive of the Scottish Qualifications Authority and Scotland's Chief Examining Officer

  SQA has been working through a range of scenarios in relation to the exam diet

• SQA update on arrangements for quality assurance and the certification of National Courses and Awards - a message to schools and colleges

• SQA Statement on the Coronavirus, and impact on the National Qualifications 2020 Examinations Timetable

  Possible impact of the Coronavirus on the National Qualifications 2020 Examinations Timetable

• Joint statement from SQA and Colleges Scotland on Higher National certification

• SQA - Coronavirus Update

  Guidance on the completion of coursework and our approach to certification will be available soon

• SQA statement on coursework for National Courses

  Schools and colleges are not required to submit learner coursework for marking, in Higher and Advanced Higher courses

• Scottish Government and SQA joint statement on the Coronavirus, and impact on August 2020 certification

  Impact of the Coronavirus outbreak on the 2020 examination timetable, and wider qualifications certification

• Joint statement from SQA and Colleges Scotland - Update to colleges

  Further joint statement from SQA and Colleges Scotland covering assessing HNC, HND, NC, NPA and NQ units; resulting and certification, and external verification.

• SQA seeks views on 2021 Appeals Process

  SQA has published a consultation on the appeals process for 2021 National 5, Higher, and Advanced Higher courses.

• SQA Apprentices log in to new skills

  This Scottish Apprenticeship Week, find out how SQA approached the recruitment of Modern Apprentices over the past year.

• Delivering National 5 results in 2020-21

  Information on the model to support teachers and lecturers in providing provisional results for National 5 candidates in session 2020-21.

• Revised model for delivering National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher results in 2021

  Following the First Minister's announcement on 16 February 2021, the National Qualifications Group has shared revised arrangements for the Alternative Certification Model and the timeline for delivering National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher results in session 2020-21. Further information about the Appeals service for 2021 will be available following consultation.

• Update from the National Qualifications 2021 Group - National 5, Higher, and Advanced Higher

  Latest update from the National Qualifications 2021 Group, following the statement given by the First Minister on Monday 4 January.

• Joint statement from SQA and Colleges Scotland

  SQA and Colleges Scotland thank all staff for their continuing help and support in dealing with the challenges which continue to face us all in session 2020-21.

• Update from the National Qualifications 2021 Group: Support and guidance for Higher and Advanced Higher in session 2020-21

  Subject-specific guidance for teachers and lecturers will be published by SQA for all subjects, on a rolling basis, throughout January 2021.

• Changes to Visiting Assessment Arrangements for National Qualifications

  We've published details of the changes to visiting assessment arrangements for Dance, Drama, Gàidhlig, Modern Languages, and Music assessments at Higher, and Advanced Higher level in session 2020-21.

• SQA update to Schools, Colleges, and Local Authorities on arrangements for National Qualifications in 2020-21

  Copy of the update issued to schools, colleges and local authorities (Heads of Centre, SQA Co-ordinators, Directors of Education, Heads of Education and Quality Improvement Officers) on Monday 02 November.

• SQA statement on arrangements for the assessment of National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher courses in the 2020-21 session

  The Deputy First Minister has announced a number of measures for the awarding of National Courses at National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher in 2020-21.

• Update from the National Qualifications 2021 Group: National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher

  The First Minister's announcement on 19 January 2021 confirmed that remote learning will continue until at least mid-February. Given this announcement the National Qualifications 2021 Group is overseeing changes to the alternative certification model and associated timeline that was announced in December

• Qualifications 2020 - Message to College Heads of Centre, and SQA Co-ordinators

  Information on assessment guidance for colleges in Scotland.

• Update from the Higher National and Vocational Qualifications 2021 Group

  Information on the approach agreed by the HNVQ 2021 Group for alternative assessment in 2020-21 for Higher National and Vocational Qualifications

• Update from the National Qualifications 2021 Group: Assessment approach to National 5

  Update from the National Qualifications 2021 Group which includes the Association of Directors of Education Scotland (ADES), Colleges Scotland, Education Scotland, the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS), School Leaders Scotland (SLS), the Scottish Council of Independent Schools (SCIS), Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) and the Scottish Government.

• SQA publishes 2019-20 appeal statistics

  SQA has published statistics for the Appeals service following the 2019-20 academic year.

• SQA publishes its response to the letter issued by the Scottish Parliament Education & Skills Committee on 20 August 2020

  SQA responds to the letter issued by the Scottish Parliament's Education & Skills Committee of 20 August 2020.

• National Courses in session 2020-21 - update

  The Deputy First Minister has asked SQA to pause publication of outcomes of our consultations on National Courses in session 2020-21 until after publication of the Priestley Review.

• Update on appeals process for 2020

  SQA can now confirm that the Deputy First Minister has directed us to provide an appeals process for centres.

   

• SQA outlines Results Day support for students

  More than 130,000 young people across Scotland are about to receive the results for their National Qualifications, courses, certificates, and awards.

• SQA Coronavirus Update - Opening Statement from SQA to Scottish Parliament Education and Skills Committee

  A copy of the opening statement given by SQA Chief Executive, and Scotland's Chief Examining Officer Fiona Robertson, to the Scottish Parliament's Education and Skills Committee on Friday 01 May

• SQA go digital to congratulate care-experienced candidates' results

  SQA staff and their families, and representatives from Who Cares? Scotland and MCR Pathways, have congratulated care-experienced young people on their achievements today

• Scottish Qualifications Authority publishes 2020 Attainment Statistics

  The Scottish Qualifications Authority announces the results for National Courses - National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher and a range of vocational qualifications for 2020.

• Joint statement from Colleges Scotland, SQA, Skills Development Scotland and Universities Scotland on Foundation Apprenticeships

  Update from Colleges Scotland, SQA, SDS and Universities Scotland regarding Foundation Apprentices due to complete in 2020.

• Scottish Qualifications Authority publishes revised 2020 Attainment Statistics

  SQA publishes the revised results for National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher courses for 2020, following the Ministerial Direction issued by the Deputy First Minister on Tuesday 11 August.

• Arrangements for National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher courses in the 2020-21 session - joint statement from Scottish Government and SQA

  SQA is launching two consultations to gather feedback on modifications to qualifications and adjustments to the 2021 exam timetable.

• Joint statement from SQA and Skills Development Scotland on Foundation Apprenticeships

  SQA and Skills Development Scotland (SDS) are committed to supporting learners who are undertaking a Foundation Apprenticeship, at this exceptionally difficult time.

• National Qualifications 2020 Awarding - an update for schools and colleges

  Following the receipt of refined estimates for learners from schools and colleges across Scotland, we have issued a further update on our work this year, including details of our free appeals service.

• Awarding 2020 - Post-Certification Review (Appeals) Service - Information for centres

  We have published information for centres regarding the free appeals (post certification review) service we will use this year.

• Statement by the Chief Executive of the Scottish Qualifications Authority and Scotland's Chief Examining Officer

  Everyone at SQA fully acknowledges the strength of feeling about last week's results among individual learners, their parents and carers - and among wider colleagues in the education system.

  As the Deputy First Minister has outlined in Parliament today, through a Ministerial direction SQA will change the previous approach to certification this year and instead award candidate results based solely on the estimates provided by schools and colleges. The results of those learners who were awarded a higher grade during the process will also be maintained.

• SQA response to Scottish Parliament Education & Skills Committee letter of 15 June 2020

  SQA responds to the letter issued Scottish Parliament's Education and Skills Committee, published on 15 June 2020.

• SQA qualifications 2021 - a message for SQA centres

  SQA provides a short update on the work we are doing to make alternative arrangements for the delivery of our qualifications for the 2020-21 session.

• Awarding 2020 - Thank you from Fiona Robertson

  A thank you message from Fiona Robertson, SQA Chief Executive.

• SQA Coronavirus Update - SQA response to Scottish Parliament Education and Skills Committee

  A copy of the response sent by SQA Chief Executive, and Scotland's Chief Examining Officer Fiona Robertson, to the Scottish Parliament's Education and Skills Committee.