Now that learners who were working towards National courses and awards over the past year have received their provisional results, and schools, colleges, and training providers have sent their quality assured data to SQA, the process begins to collate that information, and produce tens of thousands of results certificates, emails and text messages ready for delivery on Tuesday 10 August. There are often questions about why it takes so long for results to be returned to learners.
For some learners, the summer holidays have already begun. For many others, this last week of term will come as a welcome opportunity to hopefully relax after a uniquely challenging school year. Whatever the circumstances, everyone at SQA would like to thank you for the effort and resilience you have demonstrated. By now, your school, college or training provider will have confirmed provisional results for your National 5, Higher, and Advanced Higher courses, and explained to you how those awards…
Develop skills, gain a qualification, and get paid. SQA has started recruiting for its latest intake of Modern Apprentices. By combining the opportunity to earn nationally-recognised qualifications with on-the-job training, and a salary, a SQA Modern Apprenticeship will give you the knowledge and transferable skills you need to get your career off to a great start. The training programme is open to all young people aged between 16 and 19, and up to 29 for those who are disabled, or…
This has been a really challenging year for learners across the country. As a result of the pandemic, you have had to cope with a lot of disruption for over a year now and get to grips with the new way qualifications are being awarded. SQA has outlined the appeals service that will be used as part of the system that will award this year’s National 5, Higher, and Advanced Higher qualifications – called the alternative certification model. Your teachers…
SQA has confirmed that its new appeals service for this year’s National 5, Higher, and Advanced Higher qualifications will give learners the opportunity, for the first time, to register that they want to appeal directly with SQA from Friday 25 June. The free appeals service is the fifth and final stage of the alternative certification model that will be used to award your child’s National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher qualifications this year. Your child’s teachers and lecturers are using…
I am sure as you read this, many of you will be saying to yourself, “What a week this has been!” I think “That thought” could apply to quite a few weeks or months recently. On this wet Scottish Thursday morning, I have the challenge of writing this blog. I am actually finding it quite cathartic as I reflect on what we have done and achieved in our delivery of the Alternative Certification Model (ACM).
May is always a hard month – of work assessment, study and worry over attainment in the cycle of a school year. In 2021, following a global pandemic, the challenge has been greater than usual. It is important to consider this pressure in the wider context of the COVID-recovery landscape, and for school leaders to consider the parameters and guidelines negotiated and set out by leaders of the teaching unions, professional associations, the Scottish Qualifications Authority and the Scottish Government.…
Monday 10th May 2021 The National Qualifications 2021 Group* appreciates that you may have concerns regarding the levels of disruption to your child’s learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the effects this will have on gathering the evidence that their teachers or lecturers need to determine provisional results for National 5, Higher or Advanced Higher. Flexibility in gathering learner evidence Provisional results in 2021 will be based on teachers and lecturers using learners’ evidence of their knowledge, skills and…
Monday 10th May 2021 The National Qualifications 2021 Group* appreciates that you may have concerns regarding the levels of disruption to your learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the effects this will have on gathering the evidence that your teachers or lecturers need to determine provisional results for National 5, Higher or Advanced Higher.
Since their return to school in August last year, a number of young people have experienced periods of self-isolation in order to support public health efforts to suppress the virus and keep everyone safe. These were difficult and challenging times, and many questions were raised about how qualifications could be awarded under these circumstances. However, as Tony McDaid, Executive Director at South Lanarkshire Council writes, the resilience shown by learners, teachers, lecturers, and the wider education community gives him hope…
We at SQA recognise that it has been a hugely challenging time for everyone undertaking National Qualifications this year. With national exams being cancelled and learning being disrupted due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the National Qualifications 2021 Group*, which includes SQA along with other education organisations, created a different way to award National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher results.
Throughout the challenges of the past year, the whole of Scotland’s education and training system has been working together to ensure learners studying at every level receive the results they deserve. SQA is continuing to work closely with its partners from across Scotland’s education and training sector through the National Qualifications 2021 Group* and the Higher National and Vocational Qualifications (HNVQ) 2021 Group**, and we are committed to supporting employers and training providers in their assessment of this year’s candidates.…
14 April 2021 As your child returns from their Easter break, the National Qualifications 2021 Group* appreciates that you may have questions and will be looking to your child’s school, college or training provider for guidance and support. Following the cancellation of exams by the Scottish Government, an Alternative Certification Model, the way results will be decided this year, has been created by the National Qualifications 2021 Group* which includes professionals from across the education system, as well as a…
14 April 2021 As you return from your Easter break, the National Qualifications 2021 Group* appreciates that you may be feeling worried and have questions about assessment this year, and will be looking to your school, college or training provider for guidance and support. Following the cancellation of exams by the Scottish Government, an Alternative Certification Model, the way your results will be decided this year, has been created by the National Qualifications 2021 Group* which includes professionals from across…
The 2021 National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher exams are cancelled due to the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This means SQA needs a different way to decide your National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher results. SQA is a member of the National Qualifications 2021 Group*, and together the group has agreed the Alternative Certification Model which will be used to award this year’s National 5, Higher, and Advanced Higher results. The Scottish Youth Parliament, who represent the views…
Yesterday evening we had the privilege of taking part in an online question and answer session delivered by the National Parent Forum of Scotland (NPFS). With the 2021 exams being cancelled, we know how important it is to help parents, carers and learners stay informed of what this means for National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher courses. Hundreds of parents and carers listened in last night as representatives from the NPFS, the Association of Directors of Education in Scotland (ADES)…
Many school learners will be studying for vocational qualifications – such as National Progression Awards or Skills for Work courses which are often part of Foundation Apprenticeships – through School-College partnerships (or similar) this year. If so, they may be assessed through an alternative process developed for these qualifications in 2020-21. This is separate to the Alternative Certification Model being used to result National Qualifications this year.
This year, more than any other, is a real challenge for you as a learner. You are probably finding it more difficult to learn, and finding assessment more of a challenge, given the ongoing Covid-19 restrictions. The education system across Scotland is working hard to support colleges to find ways to ease the assessment burden for you, whilst making sure that your qualification will still hold real value for you in the future.
This year, more than any other, is a real challenge for you as a learner. You are probably finding it more difficult to learn, and finding assessment more of a challenge, given the ongoing Covid-19 restrictions. If you are a school pupil, you might be studying for vocational qualifications – such as National Progression Awards or Skills for Work courses which are often part of Foundation Apprenticeships – through a School-College partnership (or similar).
Throughout the challenges of the past year, the whole of Scotland’s education system has been working together to ensure learners studying at every level receive the results they deserve. SQA is continuing to work closely with its partners from across the education sector through the National Qualifications 2021 Group*, and the Higher National and Vocational Qualifications (HNVQ) 2021 Group** and we are committed to supporting teachers and lecturers in their key role in assessing learners’ evidence.
