Q&A: // STUDY
Did you know the Scottish Qualifications Authority is changing? We answer your questions about the reform and reveal
SQA REFORM
what we know so far
WHAT IS THE SQA?
From the moment you enter secondary school you’ll hear teachers and other education staff use the term SQA, but what is the Scottish Qualifications Authority actually responsible for? Founded in 1997, the organisation’s main aim is to ensure learners have a clear path to their future after school, whether that’s in higher education or employment. To do this, they have two main responsibilities: to accredit and to award qualifications, working closely with educational institutions and the wider industry to make sure qualifications are inclusive, equally accessible, flexible and of high quality. Basically, they make sure your qualifications are developed, validated and assessed in a way that ensures a high standard of education and training.
WHY IS IT CHANGING?
The SQA is now being reformed alongside Education Scotland, the agency responsible for supporting quality and improvement in 6
Scotland’s Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, Shirley-Anne Somerville, says: “The sole purpose of these changes is to improve, to achieve pandemic into account, more and to deliver for the SQA has already Scotland’s pupils.” confirmed that course
Scottish education. The reform comes after an independent review made recommendations on curriculum, assessment and qualifications in Scotland’s schools. Calls for change reached their peak during the coronavirus pandemic when there was uncertainty around exams, grades and the systems used to calculate them. As we move forward, the Curriculum for Excellence is here to stay, but it is to become more balanced so that students can fully benefit from a coherent learning experience. In the future, the approach to learning and assessments will be more teacher and student-led, taking their opinions into account during this period of change.
WHAT ABOUT EXAMS?
There’s no need to panic about the 2022 exam diet: regardless of what happens with the SQA reform, assessments will go ahead, and for now, the qualifications body will continue to issue information and advice around them. Taking the disruption caused by the
content has been reduced compared to a normal year ahead of National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher exams. If there is further disruption as a result of COVID-19, further modifications will be made to courses and assessments, and if public health conditions don’t allow the exam diet to take place, awards will once again be made on teachers’ judgements.
WHEN WILL WE KNOW MORE?
There’s no set date when we can expect an update on the future of qualifications in Scotland, but the advisor appointed by the Scottish Government started work in August 2021. This is expected to last around six months, so we should have more news in January 2022.
FIND OUT MORE Stay informed about the SQA reform on the Scottish Government website (gov.scot)
