Good practice - most recent EV visit - SQA

The Communication and English team have received a lot of positive feedback from recent SQA Qualification Verification Reports. Below is a series of comments disseminated by the SQA External Verifier for verification group 001, which outlines the variety of work undertaken by members of the teaching team.

• Teaching and Assessment Plans are in use with all classes, and these provide clear information on scheduled work throughout the year. Feedback on assessment evidence/checklists was detailed and supportive throughout, giving learners ample guidance and opportunities to discuss their progress with assessors.
• A wide range of literary texts is being used in the teaching of FA58 12, and all texts studied are at a suitable level. Essay questions are clear and allow candidates to work effectively towards achievement of the unit’s performance criteria - the avoidance of straight “lifting” of Higher English critical essay questions in favour of a more specific question type is commended.
• Vocationally relevant and topical materials are being used in many assessment instruments for FA1W 12. The use of thematically linked materials for assessment is effectively engaging specific cohorts: for example, Access to Nursing students are given a vocationally relevant reading assessment on Parkinson’s Disease, which then provides useful source materials for an Outcome 4 discussion assessment on genetic testing Outcome 2 discursive essay. The department also prepares candidates well for writing reports within the context of Higher Education study: learners are given guidance on report writing using a model for HE reports produced by several universities.
• Students on the SWAP Access to Nursing course are able to reflect on their learning and gain deeper knowledge of many aspects of their learning ‘journey” via a very impressive and engaging blog created by their assessor. The blog not only provides candidates with an opportunity to reflect on and develop their knowledge and skills, but also allows the assessor to provide an overview of learning and build a very cohesive group ethos.
• The centre received a High Confidence rating, with all quality criteria securely evidenced. It is clear that a great deal of work has gone into creating assessment materials following a development visit prior to the EV visit. The skilled and experienced staff team was praised for the effort involved in ensuring that all assessment materials were fit for purpose with appropriate standards applied when making decisions on candidate evidence. Internal verification procedures work well.