Senior Phase Assessments & Assessment Calendar

Wednesday 25th October 2023

Guide to Senior Phase Assessment 2023-2024

Most SQA courses, which had modifications to assessment during 2021-22 and 2022-23, have now returned to full assessment for this session. This means that, for most courses, students will be assessed in a combination of ways to derive their final grade. A detailed breakdown of each course and its assessments can be found at the on the SQA website.

Assessment of National Courses from 2023-24- SQA

How will assessment be used at LHS?

A range of methods are used to monitor and evaluate learning through the year. Assessments are used throughout the year to provide feedback and support students define their next steps in learning. Formal assessment is used to assess pupils against SQA standards and is used at different points of the learning process. The formal assessment results will be recorded and quality assured. They should give a good indication of likely performance in the final course assessment. In addition, they should generate robust evidence for anyone who qualifies, and requires, the use of the exceptional circumstance service in the event that they cannot sit their final exam. Alternative assessment evidence will not be used for 2024 Appeals. Like the Appeals system this year, students will be able to request a review of their SQA marked components only.

Format of Senior Phase Assessments at LHS

There is no requirement to replicate full formal exams or prelims style exams. Formal assessments take place during class time, within double periods, and will be conducted within three ‘assessment windows’. This will help reduce pressure on students, as well as support robust tracking and monitoring procedures. Assessment opportunities should not be one-off, high-stakes scenarios and should accommodate assessment arrangements for those who need additional support. In most cases, this can be accommodated within the classroom setting.

It is not necessary to assess every aspect of the course content. Formal assessments will be made up of a selection of key tasks and/or questions, covering the required areas of the course at an appropriate level of demand, and will be carried out under exam conditions.

We will also gather examples of pupils’ work and retain any class tests or practical performance that take place out with formal assessments, that provide an appropriate degree of challenge, integration and application of the key knowledge and skills of each National Course.

When will students be assessed at LHS?

Assessment windows are:

During these windows, assessments are organised as follows:

• Column A: Monday 7 and 8
• Column B: Tuesday 1 and 2
• Column C: Tuesday 4 and 5
• Column D: Thursday 7 and 8
• Column E: Wednesday 4 and 5
• Column F : Wednesday 1 and 2
• Column G: Monday 4 and 5

* Please not that there may be some exceptions to this, where an assessment will be scheduled outside of this time. In these cases students will be made aware and it will not exceed the 2 assessments in one day.

LHS Assessment Calendar

Our Assessment Calendar can be found here.

Classes should be clearly labelled – their names should match those on Google Classrooms, but if there’s any uncertainty about which class your child is in, they should ask their teacher.

Please also be aware that as the SQA release dates to us, for final assessments and visiting assessors (for performance based subjects) we will also add these to the calendar.

Please also see this video for support on how to make best use of the assessment calendar.

 

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