SQA Connections Week

SQA Connections Week (1 – 4 October) is a free online event with a range of sessions available for schools, colleges and employers and training providers.

We will be running sessions focusing on vocational qualifications in areas such as customer service, management and leadership, and care.

Other sessions will cover broader topics such as Artificial Intelligence, digital accessibility in education and supporting learners with additional support needs.

You can see the full event programme below.

To book your place on any of the sessions, please visit our event booking system.

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Digital Accessibility in Education, 1 pm – 2 pm

The benefits to learners and practitioners of digitally accessible qualifications.

Customer Service Qualifications, 1 pm – 2.30 pm

A review of qualification verification from the senior external verifier, and an update on customer service qualifications from the qualification manager.

Quality Assurance – Qualifications Approval, 3 pm – 4 pm

Information on the approval process for Awards and National Progression Awards and the importance of the internal verification process.

The Role of SQA Co-ordinator – update and refresh, 4 pm – 5 pm

Details about the role of an SQA co-ordinator and discussion on the use of Navigator and Connect to support the role.

Learning for Sustainability, 10 am – 11 am

This session will consider sustainability and its relevance to practitioners and learners. This will include a discussion of how to address global social, economic, and environmental issues which will be integrated into the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

We will also consider how to incorporate Learning for Sustainability into the curriculum, to prepare learners to deal with these global issues.

SOLAR update, 11 am – 12 pm

An update and demonstration of SOLAR, SQA’s free digital assessment system, followed by a question-and-answer session.

Care sector qualifications – outcome focussed direct observation, 11 am – 12 pm

The session will demonstrate the effectiveness of outcome focussed observation approaches to deliver better support, improve quality and make better uses of resources.  There will also be an opportunity to take part in a question-and-answer session.

Management and Leadership qualifications, 1 pm – 2 pm

This session will include a review of qualification verification of Scottish Vocational Qualifications and Professional Development Awards, from the senior external verifier.

There will be a particular focus on assessment for the following unit: Provide healthy, safe, secure and productive working environments and practices (H8H2 04). A representative from the Chartered Management Institute will provide an update on current research and the importance of management and leadership for training and upskilling learners and practitioners.

Equality advancements at SQA: supporting learners, 3 pm – 4 pm

This session will discuss the actions that we have implemented in our qualifications to advance equality for learners.

Standardisation in NextGen: HN, 4 pm – 5 pm

This session will provide information about standardisation in the context of the NextGen: HN grading approach. There will also be specific information for practitioners about the standardisation process and grade outcomes.

Assessment Arrangements – supporting learners with additional support needs, 4 pm – 5 pm

This session will provide an overview of the principles and purpose of assessment arrangements for learners with additional support needs. There will also be an opportunity to take part in a question-and-answer session.

Assessment Arrangements – supporting learners with additional support needs, 10 am – 11 am

This session will provide an overview of the principles and purpose of assessment arrangements for learners with additional support needs. There will also be an opportunity to take part in a question-and-answer session.

National Progression Awards (NPAs) in Sports Coaching (SCQF Levels 5 and 6), 10 am – 11 am

This session will provide an overview of new sports coaching qualifications that will be available for delivery in 2025-26. We will discuss the delivery and assessment of NPAs, the benefits for learners and centres, and the resources required. We will also discuss the importance of Sportscotland in the approval process, alongside additional approval criteria.

Learning for Sustainability, 11 am – 12 pm

This session will consider sustainability and its relevance to practitioners and learners. This will include a discussion of how to address global social, economic, and environmental issues which will be integrated into the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

We will also consider how to incorporate Learning for Sustainability into the curriculum, to prepare learners to deal with these global issues.

Quality Assurance – Qualifications Approval, 1 pm – 2pm

Information on the approval process for Awards and National Progression Awards and the importance of the internal verification process.

Artificial Intelligence in Scottish Education, 1pm – 2 pm

This interactive session will explore the transformative potential of AI in education and assessment.  We will consider the advancements in generative AI technology and its implications, benefits and challenges for teaching, learning, and assessment. Participants will have an opportunity to share their experiences with current AI applications, as well as discussing how learners are engaging with AI tools.                  

NextGen: HN Update for Employers and Training Providers, 3 pm – 4 pm

This session, aimed at employers and training providers, will explore the progress and development of NextGen: HN qualifications and focus on the delivery of NextGen: HNC Social Services at VSA SVQ Centre. We will also discuss new developments and future plans for NextGen: HN.              

National Progression Award in Exercise and Fitness Leadership, 3 pm – 4 pm

This session will provide an overview of the existing NPA in Exercise and Fitness Leadership, with a specific focus on quality assurance. We will also provide a brief update on the ongoing revision of this qualification.    

National Progression Award in Computing Technologies, 4 pm – 5 pm

This session will provide an update on our new NPA Computing Technologies at SCQF levels 4, 5 and 6.

National Progression Award in Art and Design, 10 am – 11 am

This session will discuss delivery approaches and verification processes, to support centres in the delivery of the NPA in Art & Design.

National Qualifications PE – assessing candidates with disabilities, 11 am – 12 pm

This session will highlight the changes made to Physical Education qualifications to make them more accessible to all learners. We will focus on changes made to the National 3 and National 4 course support notes, and the National 5 to Advanced Higher performance coursework assessment tasks and course specifications. There will also be a discussion about the introduction of new activities and advice about the marking instructions for the assessment of the single performance event.

National Progression Award in Volunteering Skills at SCQF Level 6, 11 am – 12 pm

This session will introduce centres to the new NPA in Volunteering Skills at SCQF Level 6, which has been developed to build upon the skills of our volunteering awards at SCQF levels 3, 4 and 5 and which will be available in 2025-26.

The session will offer an overview of the framework before discussing the delivery and assessment of NPAs, benefits for learners and centres, and the resources needed.

Introduction to malpractice for training providers, 12 pm – 1 pm

This session will provide an overview of SQA malpractice processes and expectations for SQA co-ordinators who have not had in depth experiences with the processes or who are new to the role.

Care sector qualifications – outcome focussed direct observation, 12 pm – 1 pm

The session will demonstrate the effectiveness of outcome focussed observation approaches to deliver better support, improve quality and make better uses of resources.  There will also be an opportunity to take part in a question-and-answer session.