23rd September 2024
Professor Hayward’s final report on the Independent Review of Qualifications and Assessments was published in June 2023. You can find links to the report and Connect’s broad summary of its recommendations here.
The Scottish Government published its response on 19 September 2024. It accepts some of the recommendations, but says more work needs to be done to explore how the others could work.
The Government says it will set out a longer-term improvement plan for education later this year.
Approach to Assessment
The Government agrees with the need to balance assessment methods and reduce the emphasis on high stakes external exams but will not remove them entirely; exams will still be taken across the Senior Phase including for National 5s. However, the new qualifications body Qualifications Scotland will look to remove them from practical subjects where appropriate, as well as working towards extending the range of assessment methods for national qualifications to provide a better balance.
Qualifications Scotland will also:
Pilot digital onscreen assessment across various subjects.
Rationalise the qualifications offer in the Senior Phase, starting with the Creative, Hospitality and Sport and Technology, Engineering and Construction Sectors, to ensure that learner pathways are less confusing and more relevant for learners.
Explore how graded national courses such as National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher could be organised into modules to give pupils more flexibility to build credit.
Project Learning/ Inter-disciplinary Learning
The Government says there needs to be more work done before inter-disciplinary learning can become a mandatory part of the Senior Phase. The Scottish Government will work with Education Scotland to set up a working group to explore how best to place inter-disciplinary learning in secondary schools.
Personal Pathway and the Digital Profile
The Government agrees with the recommendation of a national digital profile to record learners’ achievements, skills, strengths, experiences and qualifications. Skills Development Scotland’s My World of Work platform already has a digital profile, and this will be developed further so learners will be able to access a consistent and free to use profile. This will be optional.
Leaving Certificate
While acknowledging a leaving certificate could create a more inclusive approach by recognising a broader range of achievements, the Scottish Government says more work needs to be done to work out what a leaving certificate should contain and how it would work.
Parity of Esteem
The Government agrees with the recommendation to ensure consistent use of SCQF levels in the titles of qualifications while retaining existing names, for example ‘Higher English, SCQF Level 6.’ This is to make it easier to recognise levels of achievement across different types of qualifications.
Support for Teachers
The Government agrees that teachers will need support and professional learning to deliver the proposed changes. The Government says teaches will need more time to accept greater responsibility for formal assessment, as well as deliver the agreed reduction in class contact time with the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SNCT).
Artificial Intelligence and Digital
The Government agrees it is important the education sector understands the opportunities, implications and challenges of AI. It will work with Qualifications Scotland and Education Scotland to ensure AI can be used effectively and safely, as well as make sure education bodies have access to experts in AI advancements. A new digital strategy for school education is currently being developed in partnership with COSLA and key education stakeholders.
Engagement
The Scottish Government agrees that young people, their parents/carers and teachers need to remain at the centre of the discussion on the future of qualifications in Scotland, as well as universities, colleges and employers.
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