Next generation of qualifications - National Qualifications

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A photo of a group of senior students walking and chatting outside

Following a public consultation exercise, the Scottish Government worked closely on the issues raised with representatives from across the education community, through the Curriculum for Excellence Management Board. On 11 June 2009, the then Education Secretary Fiona Hyslop announced in a Parliamentary Statement the future arrangements for National Qualifications from 2012/13.

Young people in S2 in school year 2011/12 will be the first to be presented for the new qualifications.

The timetable for the introduction of the new qualifications from 2012/13 has been determined by the interests of children and young people. Young people must have the opportunity to take qualifications that best fit with the curriculum they have experienced up to that point in order to have a coherent school experience from 3 to 18.

The current system is widely respected and has credibility with parents, employers, universities and colleges. The next generation of National Qualifications will therefore retain the strengths of the current arrangements but with reduced complexity and greater autonomy for teachers to raise the standards of learning and teaching for all young people.

In summary, the new arrangements include:

Introduction of a new qualification to be offered at SCQF levels 4 and 5 from 2013/14 - National 4 and National 5. This will replace both Standard Grade (General and Credit) and Intermediate 1 and 2 whilst reflecting the best features of the present arrangements (Standard Grade Foundation level will be removed, with revised Access 3 qualifications providing an appropriate replacement).
The existing Access, Higher and Advanced Higher qualifications will all be retained as points of stability and reviewed to ensure they fully reflect Curriculum for Excellence.

The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) and its partners are now taking forward the detailed development and implementation work for the new and updated qualifications, seeking parental and professional input at all stages. Further information on the development process can be found in the Qualifications Development section of the SQA website.