SQA confirms assessment changes will remain in place for 2022-23
Thursday 28 April 2022
The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) has confirmed that changes to the way National 5, Higher, and Advanced Higher are assessed, that take into account disruption to learning caused by the global pandemic, will remain in place for the next academic year.
SQA made significant modifications to course assessments for National 5, Higher, and Advanced Higher courses, and some National 3 and National 4 at the beginning of the 2020-21 academic year to reduce the volume of assessment and ease the workload of learners, teachers and lecturers. These changes remained in place for the current 2021-22 year.
Over recent weeks, SQA has sought the views of learners, teachers, lecturers, parents and carers, as well as SQA’s Advisory Council, to consider whether these modifications should continue for 2022-23.
Fiona Robertson, SQA Chief Executive and Scotland’s Chief Examiner, said:
“We recognise the ongoing disruption to teaching and learning that young people across Scotland have experienced since the start of the pandemic.
“After careful consideration, and having reflected on the feedback we received, we can confirm that the current modifications to assessment will remain in place for 2022-23. The effects of the disruption will not go away after the summer break. Carrying the assessment modifications forward into the new academic year will help to provide some certainty for learners, teachers and lecturers and help free up more time for learning and teaching of the course content, while maintaining the integrity and credibility of their qualifications.”
SQA has also confirmed that the current alternative assessment approaches to its Higher National and Vocational Qualifications (HNVQ) will continue for 2022-23.
SQA is working with its partners on the National Qualifications Steering Group on the assessment arrangements that will be put in place for 2022-23 and will continue to engage with teachers, lecturers, learners, and parents/carers.