Policy and New Products

What We Do

Our Aim

Policy and New Products Team is responsible for research, policy and guidance on product design, assessment and quality assurance in National, Higher National and Scottish Vocational Qualification families.

Key areas of work:
 
  • Curriculum for Excellence
  • Scottish Baccalaureates
  • The development of activities and approaches to meet the needs of young people in need of More Choices, More Chances 
  • Developing a vision of SQA products for the future
  • Actions arising from the evaluation of the HN Modernisation Project and Exit Strategy consultation
  • Work with the Sector Skills Alliance to address strategic issues in vocational qualifications
  • Work with Higher Education to ensure understanding and recognition of SQA qualifications
  • Managing the PDA Modernisation Project to enhance the development of high level skills
  • Carrying out research, collation of research and producing reports
  • Comparing and benchmarking existing and intended standards against those in other countries
  • Management of Assessment Arrangements policy related to candidates who are disabled or who have additional support needs.
     
Curriculum for Excellence work centres on the development of qualifications and assessment which will promote the development of the four capacities – successful learners, confident individuals, responsible citizens and effective contributors – and support learning and teaching and skills for life, skills for work and skills for study within the new curriculum.
Particular attention is given to work on issues such as assessing and weighting units, specifying and assessing skills, recognising achievement across subjects and out of school, proper preparation for and use of summative assessment.
 

Scottish Baccalaureate work focuses on developing specifications for Baccalaureates and the interdisciplinary projects within them. Engagement work is being carried out with partner organisations and key stakeholders including HE, FE and employer organisations to obtain advice and support in developing and implementing the awards.

In developing provision to meet the needs of those in need of More Choices, More Chances ( that is, those who leave school and find no opportunity for employment, education or training) we are identifying approaches to support vulnerable learners to be successful in terms of achievement across the spectrum of schools, colleges workplace and community.

Developing a vision of SQA products for the future work focuses on working with colleagues across the organisation to develop a high level vision of what our products might look like in the future by considering current and emerging ideas about learning, assessment and qualifications.

Professional Development Award (PDA) Modernisation involves the development or revision of all SQA PDAs using the new design principles. PDAs are designed to be highly flexible qualification products which address the high level skills needs of industry, focusing on opportunities for learners to undertake forms of professional development to enable them to upskill, enskill or reskill as the needs of the economy, industry and their own CPD requirements evolve.

Meet the team >>