Private candidates — information for centres

You may be approached by a private candidate, such as a home school learner, or their representative with a request that you act as their presenting centres.  As a presenting centre you would take on responsibility for all aspects of administering assessment for the candidate.

The nature of the arrangement and extent of your agreement with the candidate is your responsibly. However, when taking on a private candidate you must ensure:

Preparation, registration and entering

• You have SQA approval (including auto-approval) for their requested qualifications.
• The candidate understands the assessment requirements of the requested qualifications. We recommend that discussions with the candidate and/or their representatives take place early so they understand what will be required, both for exams and any coursework.*
• You discuss with the candidate, or their representative, any additional support needs relevant to assessment.  You should ensure that any assessment arrangements are captured and put in place wherever these are agreed.
• You register the candidate and, where necessary, allocate an SCN to the candidate.
• The candidate is entered for all their qualifications appropriately within SQA deadlines.

Coursework (internal assessment and/or externally assessed coursework)

• Required assessment conditions are adhered to, and evidence can be authenticated as the candidate’s work, for all internal assessments and for externally assessed coursework.
• You have competent staff available to assess any internal assessment components.
• Internal verification processes are in place for internal assessment and these are applied for the private candidate. These processes must ensure that all candidates are validly and reliably assessed.
• The candidate’s internal assessment results are submitted within SQA deadlines.

Exams

• Provide the candidate with all the information they need about the time and venue of exams.
• If required, ensure that a ‘sitting at’ arrangement with another SQA approved centre is arranged.
• You share information about your centre’s malpractice and appeals policies with the candidate and ensure the candidate understands that these apply to private candidates.

*In 2021/22 discussion should also cover gathering evidence of attainment in case exams are cancelled. Wherever internal assessment takes place (whether part of the planned course or as contingency) the centre will be responsible for all aspects of the assessment.