The final report of Professor Hayward’s Independent Review of Qualifications and Assessments, ‘It’s Our Future: Report of the Independent Review of Qualifications and Assessment,’ has now been published.
You can read the full report here, a summary of the review’s findings and recommendations here, and Connect’s statement on the publication of the report here.
The final proposals are broadly the same as those which were consulted on earlier in the year, and include:
The creation of a senior phase leaving certificate called the Scottish Diploma of Achievement. This would be made of three parts:
Programmes of Learning: learners would continue to study subject, vocational, technical and professional qualifications, similar to now, however learners would take less exams as Nat 5s would be awarded based on continuous assessment instead of taking a final exam. Highers and Advanced Highers would retain exams, however this would just be one part of assessment for the final grade, with learners earning credit as they progress along the course. Learners could choose to study a subject at Higher over two years, though the option to take it over one year would remain.
Project Learning: learners would have the opportunity to use the knowledge and skills they have developed in their Programmes of Learning to tackle a significant question or problem that is important to them by undertaking a Project. This could be done individually or in groups, but assessment would be individual. Project Learning would not be graded but would be linked to SCQF levels each with a different number of credit points.
Personal Pathway: This is where learners can personalise their diploma by reflecting on other activities and learning they have taken part in, such as contributions they have made to their school or wider community, extra-curricular activities, career development activities, or other activities or accomplishments they are proud off. This would not be graded but evidence would be gathered to confirm their work.
Other recommendations include:
That each learner should have a digital profile which allows them to record their achievements and plan their future learning.
SCQF levels should be highlighted in qualifications names, for example SCQF Level 6 – Higher, to make it easier to recognise levels of achievement across different types of qualifications.
To continue to engage with the people who use qualifications and assessments as reforms are implemented: the learners, those who support them (including parents and carers), and those who teach them, and those who need to be able to recognise and understand them such as employers, universities, and other education settings.
That changes must be carefully planned in phases and properly resourced, to take place over ten years.
The Scottish Government will now consider these recommendations, alongside other recent reports on reform such as the National Discussion and the report on skills delivery, and will respond in the autumn.