What is changing?
The Government is simplifying the qualifications structure.
Standard Grades and Intermediates will be replaced by a new qualification. Access, Higher and Advanced Higher will be retained but updated.
What will the new qualification be called?
The replacement for Standard Grades and Intermediates will be called the National award at SCQF levels 4 and 5.
Are these new qualifications part of Curriculum for Excellence?
Yes. The new qualifications have a key role to play in helping to deliver the values, purposes and principles of Curriculum for Excellence. They will help towards the aim of raising standards of achievement and improving learning experiences. Young people and adult learners will benefit from qualifications that support the curriculum rather than lead it and will experience a better planned, better connected and more progressive educational experience. Assessment approaches will promote depth of understanding, motivate and challenge learners and ensure that their transition into qualifications is smooth.
The new qualifications will be part of the senior phase experience for young people. The curriculum will extend opportunties for individuals to develop skills across a wide range of types of activity, promoting continued development of the attributes and capabilities of the Curriculum for Excellence four capacities-successful learners, confident individuals, responsible citizens and effective contributors.
When will all this happen?
2012/13 will be the last year for presentation of Standard Grades and current Access 2 and 3.
National 4 and National 5 will be available from 2013/14.
Highers and Advanced Highers will be revised and these updated qualifications will be available from 2014/15 and 2015/16 respectively.
New qualifications at SCQF Level 4 and 5