Review of Qualifications and Assessment: Phase 3

Thursday 16th March 2023

As indicated in the most recent HT Weekly Update the national review of qualifications and Assessment in the Senior Phase as moved on.   To support this next phase we will hold an on-line session on Wednesday 29th March at 6.30pm to share current thinking and gather feedback from parents/carers.

As you may already know Professor Louise Hayward is leading on this important piece of work.  Her Interim Report click here gives a strong steer on how things could look in a few years time for Senior Phase students across the country.  Her ‘possible model’, if implemented, would see a move away from the current, very traditional,  model of an annual round of high stakes exams each year for our Senior Phase students.

The main features of the ‘possible model’ that is being considered are as follows

• the introduction of a Scottish Diploma of Achievement (SDA);  the aim of this is to allow young people to gather evidence of their achievements across a broader range of areas than is currently the case, i.e., most young people currently evidence their achievements through the exam system
• the SDA is made up of three main elements: Subject Studies; Learning in Context; Personal Pathway
• all young people would work towards achieving this SDA and would be expected to achieve in all three areas

The three elements that would constitute the SDA are outlined in more depth below

• Subject Studies:  this is in some respect the ‘continuity’ element with progress in individual subjects,  these subjects already exist and are the major element of the current system,  however, the proposal is courses and programmes over two years, and new ways of young people evidencing their learning (not just via a formulaic exam)  this could mean project work, teacher assessment, open book tasks, digital assessments as well as ‘traditional’ examinations
• Learning in Context: this is a project based element where young people would be expected to gather evidence on their achievements between subjects and across, knowledge, skills and competences in action.  It might focus on a global challenge such as climate change or social justice (things that are significant for young people now and in the future).   This element aims to address the importance of skills and competences and would be assessed against broadly defined criteria designed to encourage creative approaches
• Personal Pathway:  this element will give young people the opportunity to think about their wider achievements, this could include their interests, the contributions they make to society and highlight aspects of their learning and achievements in their chosen areas.  Young people would be expected to evidence their achievements in range of contexts; social, cultural and economic/careers and be supported by a member of the school staff in this element.

Our on-line Zoom meeting is designed to allow parents/carers to hear more about the proposed model and feedback thoughts on questions we will pose.  The meeting will finish no later than 8.00pm.   On the day of the meeting we’ll send a Zoom code to all families and we hope to see many of you at our meeting

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