Guide to Scottish Qualifications
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Guide to Scottish Qualifications Fo und at ion A p p re n t ic e s h alaureates i acc p B s ish tt co S HNC NPA SVQ IWPS PDA CWR NQ HND SfW Awards s ip sh e tic en ppr Modern A “SQA is proud to be at the heart of the education and skills system in Scotland and is committed to helping young people realise their potential and to achieve their ambitions.” Dr Janet Brown, Chief Executive of SQA 2 Scottish Qualifications explained SQA qualifications are designed and structured to support people on their individual learning journeys, and give Scottish businesses a competitive advantage by enhancing the quality of the workforce. At first sight, the Scottish qualifications system might seem complex, but it is really very straightforward. Qualifications sit at various levels allowing the learner to make strides from one qualification to the next, or to change paths at an equivalent level, which gives everyone the opportunity to achieve their full and true potential. SQA has a wide range of robust, relevant and respected qualifications which are designed in partnership with industry experts to ensure learners gain the skills and experience needed in the workplace. Find out more at www.sqa.org.uk 3 SCQF The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) helps to make the relationships between qualifications clearer. It covers achievements such as those from school, college, university, and many work-based qualifications. Qualifications in the SCQF are compared using two measures: level and credit. The level of a qualification shows how difficult the learning is, and the amount of credit shows the size of the qualification. This ready reckoner shows SQA Qualifications in the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework. 4 SQA Qualifications in the SCQF Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework SCQF Levels Levels 12 Doctorate* 12 11 Masters* SVQ 5 11 10 Honours Degree* 10 Professional 9 Ordinary Degree* Development 9 Awards SVQ 4 8 Higher National Diploma 8 7 Advanced Higher 7 Scottish Baccalaureates Higher National Certificate Awards SVQ 3 6 Higher 6 Skills for Work Higher National 5 / 5 Skills for Work National 5 National SVQ 2 5 Progression National 4 / 4 Awards/ SVQ 1 4 Skills for Work National 4 National National 3 / Certificates 3 Skills for Work National 3 3 2 5 National 2 2 1 National 1 *Benchmark qualifications of higher education institutions 1 Ready Reckoner for SQA Qualifications in the SCQF Customer Contact Centre 0345 279 1000 [email protected] The Scottish Credit and Units National qualifications Group Awards Qualifications Framework (SCQF) Type SCQF SCQF SCQF SCQF SCQF helps people to understand and credit level credit level credit compare different qualifications points points points in Scotland. Advanced Higher 7 32 Higher National Diploma 8 240 It does this by using two National Units 8 Higher Higher National Certificate 7 96 measures: SCQF levels 5-12 Higher 6 24 Levels (1-12) show how complex National Units National Certificate 4-6 72 8 the learning of a qualification is. SCQF level 7 National 5 5 24 National Certificate 2-3 54 Credit points indicate the volume National Units Awards1 1-12 varies 6 of learning required to achieve SCQF levels 1-6 National 4 4 24 1 a qualification. Professional Development Awards 6-12 varies SVQ Units varies National Progression Awards1 2-6 varies One SCQF credit point represents SCQF levels 4-12 National 3 3 18 10 notional learning hours. Scottish Vocational Qualifications 2 SQA qualifications are developed National 2 2 18 using SCQF level and credit points. SCQF level This information is shown on SVQ 5 11 National 1 1 6 the Scottish Qualifications SVQ 4 8-9 Certificate. The Ready Reckoner shows the level and credit Scottish Baccalaureates SVQ 3 6-7 points for SQA Units, Courses SCQF SCQF SVQ 2 5 and Group Awards. level credit points SVQ 1 4 7 104 1 These are flexible Group Awards. SCQF credit points will vary according to the number of credits that they are made up of. 2 Please refer to SQA’s website for information on SVQs. The allocation of SCQF credit points and levels to SVQs will be undertaken as and when they are revised. AD7071 www.scqf.org.uk More information on the SCQF, and SQA's interactive ready reckoner, can be found at www.sqa.org.uk/scqf 7 National Units National Courses National Courses Work Skills for Baccalaureates Scottish They can also be taken by adult learners. by can also be taken They interests suit everyone’s subjects to cover They Construction, to Chemistry and skills, from Care. to and Computing Hospitality, to History Range of NQs available: • • • • National Qualifications (NQs) are one of the most one of the most are (NQs) Qualifications National in Scotland. important types of qualification school or college leaving everyone Almost NQ. has one or more today schools in secondary students by taken NQs are providers). (and some training and colleges National Qualifications National Ready Reckoner for SQA Qualifications in the SCQF Customer Contact Centre 0345 279 1000 [email protected] The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) helps people to understand and compare different qualifications in Scotland. It does this by using two measures: Levels (1-12) show how complex the learning of a qualification is. Credit points indicate the volume of learning required to achieve a qualification. One SCQF credit point represents 10 notional learning hours. SQA qualifications are developed using SCQF level and credit points. This information is shown on the Scottish Qualifications Certificate. The Ready Reckoner shows the level and credit points for SQA Units, Courses and Group Awards. 1 These are flexible Group Awards. SCQF credit points will vary according to the number of credits that they are made up of. 2 Please refer to SQA’s website for information on SVQs. The allocation of SCQF credit points and levels to SVQs will be undertaken as and when they are revised. AD7071 www.scqf.org.uk More information on the SCQF, and SQA's interactive ready reckoner, can be found at www.sqa.org.uk/scqf National Qualifications (NQ) National 1 units National 3 courses National 1 units are assessed National 3 courses are as pass or fail by a teacher made up of units which or lecturer. are assessed as pass or fail by a teacher or lecturer. They could lead to: • National 2 courses Learners need to pass all units to achieve the • Awards at SCQF level 1 qualification. or 2 They could lead to: National 2 courses • Related courses at National 2 courses are National 4 made up of units which • Awards at SCQF level are assessed as pass or fail 3 or 4 by a teacher or lecturer. • National Certificates (NC) Learners need to pass or National Progression all units to achieve the Awards (NPA) qualification. • Employment opportunities They could lead to: • National 3 courses • Awards at SCQF level 2 or 3 8 9 National 4 courses National 5 courses National 4 courses are National 5 courses are made up of units, including assessed through a question an added value unit paper (exam) or coursework, which assesses learners’ or both — most of which will performance across the be marked by SQA. In some course. These units are subjects, coursework is assessed as pass or fail marked by a teacher or by a teacher or lecturer lecturer. The courses are and learners need to pass graded A to D or ‘no award’. all units, including the They could lead to: added value unit, to achieve the qualification. • Higher courses • units or awards at SCQF They could lead to: level 5 or 6 8 • National 5 courses • National Certificate (NC) • units or awards at SCQF or National Progression level 4 or 5 Award (NPA) • National Certificate (NC) • Foundation Apprenticeship or National Progression • Modern Apprenticeship Award (NPA) at SCQF level 6 • Modern Apprenticeships or other employment Higher Courses opportunities Higher courses are made up of units* and a course assessment. The course assessment involves a question 9 paper (exam) or coursework, a course assessment. The or both — most of which will course assessment involves be marked by SQA. In some a question paper (exam) or subjects, coursework is marked coursework, or both — most by a teacher or lecturer. of which will be marked by SQA. In some subjects, The courses are graded A to coursework is marked D or ‘no award’ and learners by a teacher or lecturer. need to pass all units plus the course assessment to The courses are graded A to achieve the qualification. D or ‘no award’ and learners need to pass all units plus They could lead to: the course assessment to • Advanced Higher courses achieve the qualification. • units or awards at SCQF They could lead to: level 6 or 7 • Higher National Diploma • National Certificate (NC) (HND) or National Progression Award (NPA) • Undergraduate Degree • Higher National Certificate • Technical Apprenticeship (HNC) or Higher National at SCQF level 8 Diploma (HND) • Undergraduate Degree • Modern Apprenticeship *Units will be removed from at SCQF level 7 Higher courses from 2018-19 and Advanced Higher Advanced Higher courses courses from 2019-20. Advanced Higher courses For more information, visit are made up of units* and www.sqa.org.uk/nqchanges 10 11 National Qualifications Skills for Work Courses Skills for Work courses are designed to introduce learners to the demands and expectations of the world of work. They are available in a variety of areas such as construction, hairdressing and hospitality. Find out more at www.sqa.org.uk/skillsforwork Scottish Baccalaureates Scottish Baccalaureates are qualifications at SCQF level 7, and are available to learners in S5 and S6.