Engaging with learners:SQA’s experience

The Assessment Summit: Hearing the Student Voice

Thursday 20 March 2014

Martyn Ware

Head of Assessment Development

and Delivery

About SQA

• National awarding body • 700 staff, £60m turnover• Offices in Glasgow and

Dalkeith• Qualifications for schools,

colleges and training providers

• Offer products and services across the UK and internationally

• Accreditation

Engaging with learners

• Overviews• Ongoing engagement• Services for learners

- Website

- Results services plus

- Formative assessment

Initial overview surveys

• Undertaken in 2006 and 2008• Finding out what candidates views of the

qualifications they were undertaking• Two areas:

- general questions, covering motivations, satisfaction, use of technology and

attitudes to assessment

- specific to the qualification type

Main findings - 2008

• Improving employment prospects, personal development and interest were important motivating factors

• Almost all candidates felt their qualifications would help them achieve their goals

• Most NQ candidates and a significant proportion of SVQ and HNC/D candidates intend to complete other SQA qualifications in the future

• In general candidates do not believe assessment is an excessive burden

• The amount of work in qualifications is about right• A majority of candidates support increased use of technology in

assessment and learning• Most candidates enjoyed and were satisfied with their qualifications

Continued engagement

• Ongoing programme of stakeholder research includes annual engagement with learners

• Feedback on SQA generally and on specific, current issues e.g. SQC

• Ad hoc engagement on specific issues e.g. forum for comments on exams, trials of new e-assessment approaches

www.sqa.org.uk

• Learners now recognised as key user group• Information specifically for learners• Distinguish between centre type• Provides links to other services

2012 2013

MySQANQ candidates 45 849 46 037

Other candidates 76 718 102 004

App downloadsExam timetable 37 702 57 612

Study planner 36 752 57 733

OpenAssess

• Formative assessment content • Available for a range of qualifications• Free to access• Includes feedback• Designed to support learning, not as exam

practice• Link to website

Conclusions

• SQA has a strong record of engaging with learners

• We recognise the importance of informing and influencing

• Importance of engagement on the right terms and in the right places

• Services are generally well received and used

Thank you

Martyn.ware@sqa.org.uk