SQA Research reports
Our Policy, Analysis and Standards team is responsible for commissioning, carrying out and collating research to inform and support all aspects of SQA’s activities.
Education reform in Scotland
In 2021, SQA conducted two pieces of research to contribute towards the national discussion and evidence base around education reform in Scotland:
- A comparative study of organisational structures in high performing jurisdictions, and how they support successful assessment, curriculum and qualifications (8.93 MB), and
- To what extent is there alignment between the intentions of Scotland’s Curriculum for Excellence, and National 5, Higher, and Advanced Higher Courses? An evidence-based approach (2.44 MB)
These research reports underpinned SQA’s response to Professor Muir’s review of education reform (619 KB). His subsequent report, Putting Learners at the Centre: Towards a Future Vision for Scottish Education, was published by the Scottish Government on Wednesday 9 March 2022 and references the research.
Senior phase assessment in Scotland
OECD's paper Upper-secondary education student assessment in Scotland: a comparative perspective follows its report on Curriculum for Excellence in June.
To inform their work we submitted this report to the OECD.
Employers and qualifications
Appeals 2021
- Research into international comparators for UNCRC and appeals (470 KB)
- SQA appeals consultation analysis (686 KB)
National Qualifications evaluation 2017
NQ Research Fieldwork
- SQA Fieldwork Report 2016-17: National Course design and assessment (661 KB)
- SQA Fieldwork Report 2015-16: National Course design and assessment (836 KB)
Research and Evidence Report: Internal Unit Assessment in National Courses
This Report looked at the policy and guidance documents that shaped the new Courses.