SQA's Quality Framework: a guide for centres · SQA’s Quality Framework: a guide for centres...
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SQA's Quality Framework: a guide for centres
Transcript of SQA's Quality Framework: a guide for centres · SQA’s Quality Framework: a guide for centres...
SQA's Quality Framework: SQA's Quality Framework: a guide for centresa guide for centres
FA1595 March 2006
The Optima Building58 Robertson StreetGlasgowG2 8DU
Customer Contact CentreTel: 0845 279 1000Fax: 0845 213 5000e-mail: [email protected]
website: www.sqa.org.uk
Ironmills RoadDalkeithMidlothianEH22 1LE
SQA’s Quality Framework: a guide for centres
Published date: March 2006 Publication code: FA1595
First published in 1998 as Quality Assurance Principles, Elements and Criteria
Other publications in series Guide to Approval Guidance for UK-based centres on providing SQA qualifications overseas
Published by the Scottish Qualifications Authority The Optima Building, 58 Robertson Street, Glasgow, G2 8DQ Ironmills Road, Dalkeith, Midlothian EH22 1LE
SQA’s website: www.sqa.org.uk
The information in this publication may be reproduced in support of SQA qualifications. If it is reproduced, SQA should be clearly acknowledged as the source. If it is to be used for any other purpose, then written permission must be obtained from the Publications
Team, Customer Relations and Marketing at SQA. It must not be reproduced for trade or commercial purposes.
© Scottish Qualifications Authority 1998, 2006
For an up-to-date list of prices visit the Publication Sales and Downloads section of SQA’s website. This document can be produced, on request, in alternative formats, including large type, Braille and numerous community languages. For further details telephone SQA’s Customer Contact Centre on 0845 279 1000. SQA is committed to using plain English. We will try to make our publications as easy and straightforward to understand as we can, and will try to avoid all unnecessary jargon. If there’s any language in this document that you feel is hard to understand, or could be improved, please write to Editor, Publications Team, at the Glasgow address above or e-mail: [email protected].
Contents Introduction 1
Freedom of Information 1 SQA’s Quality Framework 2 SQA’s quality assurance processes 3
Overview: assessment and quality assurance 4 Approval 4
Management of an SQA centre 4 Approval to offer specific qualifications 4
Assessment 5 Internal verification 5 External verification 6 Validation 6
Devolved authority and quality auditing 7 Monitoring of SQA’s quality processes 7 What happens if things go wrong 8
Summary of your responsibilities as an SQA centre 10 The quality processes and criteria 11
Process 1: Management of an SQA centre 11 Process 2: Approval to offer specific SQA qualifications 14 Process 3: Internal verification of internal assessment 15 Process 4: External verification of internal assessment 16 Process 5: Quality control of external assessment 18 Process 6: Validation of SQA qualifications 19
Introduction SQA is committed to providing qualifications and support to match the needs of individuals, society and the economy of Scotland. We strive to maintain a balanced portfolio of qualifications that is inclusive, facilitates progression, and reflects Scotland’s educational, economic, social and cultural needs. We are pleased to be working in partnership with our approved centres to achieve our shared goals of excellence and consistency. This helps us to ensure that SQA qualifications continue to meet the requirements of the people of Scotland and all other users of our qualifications. Our quality assurance framework covers all aspects of our qualifications, from initial design and development through to assessment and certification of candidates. Its principal aim is to ensure that standards are set and consistently maintained. At the heart of our approach to quality assurance is our commitment to ensuring that all our qualifications are accessible to all candidates who have the potential to achieve them. We are equally committed to maintaining an assessment and quality system that is easy to understand, effectively administered, publicly accountable, and cost-effective to operate. We have now reviewed and revised our quality assurance framework to take account of changing legislation, new technologies and our changing portfolio of qualifications. This publication is for staff in SQA approved centres and aims to provide a summary of our mutual responsibilities for quality assurance. Please read it in conjunction with our other publications which give operational guidance.
Freedom of Information The Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 came into force on 1 January 2005. This Act means that any person or organisation, anywhere in the world, now has the right to have access to records of information that SQA holds. As part of our duties under this Act, we may disclose information obtained from third parties, other than personal data, to anyone who makes a request. If a third party considers that any of the information given to SQA should not be disclosed under the terms of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, the information should be marked as sensitive and discussed with SQA. SQA only will determine whether such information is to be exempt or not. We will, though, consult with the third party in considering any request received under this Act.
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SQA’s Quality Framework In this document, we describe SQA’s quality framework, and summarise your responsibilities as an SQA centre. Our quality assurance monitoring of the way you carry out your responsibilities depends on which SQA qualifications you offer and how they are assessed: ♦ Where assessments are externally marked by SQA, we are responsible for
quality assurance. ♦ For internally-assessed qualifications, we share responsibility with our
centres, so we use a different range of quality assurance measures. We also know that the assessment processes of education authority schools and further and higher education colleges in Scotland are subject to the quality assurance procedures of a number of external bodies, and we will recognise this as part of our overall quality management. For some other organisations, including those outwith Scotland, SQA may be the only body which externally monitors the reliability of assessment decisions, and we will develop processes to take account of quality systems needed to underpin the successful delivery and assessment of SQA qualifications in these centres. The most important objective of our assessment and quality assurance processes is to ensure that candidates who have demonstrated the competences required by an SQA qualification receive certification. To achieve this, we have to be confident that assessment of SQA qualifications is valid and reliable, and that it consistently meets national standards. This has to be done in a way that is practical and cost-effective for us and our centres. We work in close partnership with our centres, to provide you with support and guidance in achieving our mutual goal of excellence. We make every effort to keep the quality assurance demands on our centres to the minimum by adopting a risk-based approach to our monitoring activities. In this publication, we give you an overview of our quality assurance framework and an introduction to how we carry out quality assurance in the various contexts in which SQA qualifications are assessed. It also provides an outline of the good practice which we expect you to offer as a minimum, by summarising your responsibilities as an SQA approved centre.
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SQA’s quality assurance processes All our qualifications are designed, validated, supported and maintained to the same high standards, and take account of progression within, and across, our three qualification families. We recognise that our qualifications have a ‘lifecycle’, and we are committed to reviewing them on a regular basis. We have identified six key processes that support the quality framework. These processes underpin all SQA qualifications, and are the mechanisms through which we establish and maintain national standards. There are requirements or criteria for each of these processes. Maintaining a high quality of provision requires an effective partnership between ourselves and those we work with, based on these quality assurance criteria. The criteria are given in full at the back of this guide. processes criteria 1 management of an SQA centre the criteria relate to the management
procedures which underpin the implementation and assessment of SQA qualifications in centres
2 approval to offer specific SQA qualifications
the criteria relate to resources required of centres for the implementation and assessment of specific SQA qualifications
3 internal verification of internal assessment
the criteria relate to the processes by which SQA and centres ensure that all internal assessment is valid, reliable, practicable and cost-effective
4 external verification of internal assessment
the criteria relate to external processes by which SQA ensures that internal assessment is in line with the national standards set out in the qualifications
5 quality control of external assessment
the criteria relate to the processes by which SQA and centres ensure that external assessment is in line with the national standards set out in the qualifications
6 validation of SQA qualifications the criteria relate to ensuring that SQA qualifications are fit for purpose
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Overview: assessment and quality assurance
Approval
Management of an SQA centre If your organisation wishes to offer SQA qualifications, you need approval as an SQA centre. This will normally involve a visit to ensure that you have the potential to become an SQA centre and to offer SQA qualifications. We will check that you meet our centre approval criteria, and that you have the staff and resources you need to offer the qualification (see the table entitled ‘Summary of your responsibilities as an SQA centre’). We will take account of the quality indicators of any other organisations who have carried out quality audits or inspections on your centre. For example, all Scottish secondary schools and colleges fully registered with the Scottish Executive Education Department (SEED), including independent schools, are deemed to meet centre approval criteria. We will also take account of achievement of Scottish Quality Management System (SQMS) accreditation or approval by another awarding body. Our approval criteria apply to all centres, whether they are in Scotland, the rest of the United Kingdom, or overseas. We are committed to providing you with an efficient approval service which meets your needs. We will help you with your centre approval application and subsequent applications for approval to offer specific qualifications. As far as possible, we will fit in with your own timescales for gaining approval.
Approval to offer specific qualifications In approving you to offer specific SQA qualifications, we take into account your experience of delivering and assessing qualifications in the area from which the qualification is drawn. If you are a new centre, or have not offered qualifications in the specialist area before, we will normally arrange for an approval visit. If you have successfully offered qualifications in the specialist area, and have made an approval submission which provides sufficient information, then we may be able to approve you directly on that basis. Centres can apply for devolved authority which means that they conduct the approval process themselves for some types of qualification. (Please refer to the section on devolved authority and quality auditing).
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Assessment For both internally-assessed and externally-assessed qualifications, we need your co-operation in ensuring that all candidates have equality of access to assessment, in accordance with our mutual legal and moral responsibilities. You should be able to demonstrate the effectiveness of your procedures for making assessment arrangements for candidates with disabilities and those with additional support needs. New technologies give increased opportunities for candidate support. However, they also set new challenges, and together we need to support each other in keeping abreast of technologies to identify opportunities for candidates and manage potential risks to national standards. We must be vigilant in ensuring that evidence submitted for assessment is the candidate’s own work. Candidates increasingly have access to rich sources of information, for example through the internet, and we all have a duty to support them to make sure that they do not plagiarise when using such sources. This combination of vigilance and support applies to assessment evidence produced under examination conditions, and to all other candidate evidence for internally-assessed and externally-assessed qualifications. This includes folios and projects, and evidence produced in real working environments, which require different quality assurance measures for ensuring authenticity. Security is a vital consideration throughout the assessment process, from initial development of the assessment materials to candidate certification. You must ensure that assessment materials and candidate evidence for internally- and externally-assessed qualifications are securely stored whilst in your centre. Any breaches in security in relation to national examinations must be reported to SQA. The conduct of national examinations requires a high degree of organisation and preparation from centres and SQA. Where qualifications include an external assessment which is set and marked by SQA, we take on the responsibility for ensuring that national standards are met and maintained. Your responsibilities relate to administering assessment activities on our behalf according to defined guidelines. For internally-assessed qualifications, quality assurance is through internal and external verification. Internal verification is your responsibility as a centre, and external verification is SQA’s responsibility.
Internal verification SQA requires that all candidates in your centre entered for the same qualification are assessed to a specified standard. Your internal verification procedures should ensure that your assessors are making consistent and accurate assessment decisions.
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You must have written procedures for ensuring that all assessment decisions are consistent with national standards, and must maintain records of the internal verification process. Internal verification underpins our internally-assessed qualifications. It is one of the key processes by which you and SQA ensure equality of access to assessment for all candidates. Effective internal verification is every candidate’s guarantee that all assessment decisions are fair and transparent.
To help support you in ensuring the validity and reliability of internal assessment, we publish assessment materials for centre use. If you are producing your own assessment material, you can ask SQA to scrutinise the materials before you use them, and confirm that they meet the requirements of the assessment specification.
External verification SQA has a team of external verifiers drawn from a wide variety of backgrounds, including education and industry, who are all subject experts and/or occupationally competent. Their role is to confirm that the assessment decisions which you make in your centre consistently meet national standards, and we provide them with training so that they can carry out verification to our high standards. How and when we carry out external verification is based on a number of factors, including the type of qualification, the type and format of evidence, and your centre’s track record in assessing the qualification. We are committed to ensuring that the system is fit for purpose, and that it provides you with support as well as confirmation of the validity and reliability of your assessment decisions. External verification involves various approaches, both visiting and central verification, and increasingly, e-verification. Where the candidate evidence is ephemeral, for example a performance in Drama or a process in Catering, or results in a product which cannot be readily transported, we use visiting verification.
Validation SQA has a wide portfolio of qualifications which is constantly changing and expanding to meet the needs of our stakeholders. We subject all our qualifications to a rigorous validation process to ensure that they meet our overall design criteria, which are: ♦ qualifications are accessible to all candidates who have the potential to achieve
them ♦ the criteria which define the performance required of candidates for them to
achieve qualifications is appropriate to purpose, explicit and in the public domain
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♦ each Unit, Course and Group Award is unique and necessary, and complies with the relevant qualification specification
We work closely with our stakeholders in developing qualifications, and we invite centre staff to serve on Qualification Development Teams. We place great value on this close partnership with our centres, and on the willingness of centres to release staff to work with us. We also consult regularly with centres on proposals for introducing new qualifications or revising existing ones. Centres can apply for devolved authority for the validation of some qualifications. This means that centres conduct the validation process on SQA’s behalf. Devolved authority for validation applies to Group Awards only: SQA is responsible for writing and validating Units.
Devolved authority and quality auditing Quality auditing ensures that centres have the systems in place to enable them to take on responsibility for approval and validation. Centres can apply for devolved authority to validate some SQA qualifications and to approve themselves to offer specific SQA qualifications. Devolved authority for approval does not extend to certain types of qualifications, mainly some Scottish Vocational Qualifications. This is because of policy and/or agreements, for example, where we offer the qualification in partnership with another body. We do not offer devolved authority for validation of some other SQA qualifications, currently National Qualifications and Scottish Vocational Qualifications. The devolution of authority will depend on a successful audit against the criteria set out in this document. Following a successful quality audit, we will offer a quality contract to centres defining the extent of their devolved authority. After the initial audit, feedback from external verification and on the performance of any candidates in external assessment will allow SQA to monitor the quality of assessment in the centre. There will be ongoing support and monitoring of the quality contract.
Monitoring of SQA’s quality processes We quality assure our national system of assessment to ensure that consistent and accurate standards are set, applied and maintained. We work in partnership with many subject experts and staff in centres who carry out quality assurance activities on our behalf, including support with the development of qualifications, support and assessment materials, external verification, and the setting and marking of examinations. To comply with the Protection of Children (Scotland) Act 2003, SQA undertakes Disclosure Scotland checks for any SQA staff whose duties may involve contact with children.
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For internally-assessed qualifications, we regularly monitor centres to ensure that our qualifications are offered in centres which have the resources and expertise to assess candidates against the qualification criteria. We always submit a report to centres on the results of our monitoring activities in their centre. These reports confirm that the centre continues to meet our approval criteria and that assessment decisions are consistent with national standards. They also contain developmental advice, to provide centres with additional support in our mutual drive for excellence. We are actively pursuing new ways of carrying out quality assurance activities, including e-assessment and e-verification where appropriate. Our quality assurance system has to be continually maintained so that, through evolving processes and the development of skills and experience of staff, standards can be enhanced. For this reason, where centres have not offered a qualification for some time, and wish to resume their activity, we will carry out further quality checks to confirm continued approval to offer the qualification. As well as working with centres to manage and enhance the quality of SQA qualifications, we routinely monitor our own performance. We establish processes that need to be followed and submit these to regular auditing. This includes systematic evaluation and review of the effectiveness of our quality management processes. We also monitor standards across all our qualifications over time, to ensure consistency. Feedback from our stakeholders is an integral part of all our review activities. We are also subject to external audit by a number of agencies, including the Scottish Executive.
What happens if things go wrong We have a range of methods to help you get back on track if our quality assurance activities identify problems in your centre. If issues do arise, we will work with you to resolve them, and to ensure that candidates are not disadvantaged. If we identify problems during external verification, we place a ‘hold’ on candidate certification until the matter is resolved. This means that no candidates in your centre can be certificated for the Units or the award until you show us that you are making accurate assessment decisions using the correct assessment material. Where external verification reveals a significant problem in internal assessment, this means that your internal verification process has not been effective. Should a centre-wide problem be identified through external verification, we may arrange for a visit by a member of our quality assurance staff, to help you to develop an effective internal verification process.
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You can request a development visit from SQA staff at any time. Devolved authority for approval and validation can also be removed if evidence from quality assurance monitoring indicates that you are not meeting your responsibilities. Approval to offer specific qualifications or approval as an SQA centre can be removed if you do not continue to meet the criteria of the quality framework. For internally-assessed qualifications, it is your responsibility to deal with candidate appeals against assessment decisions, and with candidate complaints. SQA deals with appeals against assessment decisions in external examinations. Such appeals must be submitted to SQA through centres, and not by individual candidates. If you are dissatisfied with the way SQA has acted in any respect, we offer a complaints procedure. You have a right to appeal to the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman if you are not satisfied with the way in which we have dealt with your complaint.
Sum
mar
y of
you
r res
pons
ibili
ties
as a
n SQ
A c
entr
e
P
roce
ss
Sum
mar
y of
resp
onsi
bilit
ies
1 man
agem
ent
of a
n SQ
A
cent
re
2 appr
oval
to
offe
r spe
cific
SQ
A
qual
ifica
tions
3 inte
rnal
ve
rific
atio
n of
inte
rnal
as
sess
men
t
4 exte
rnal
ve
rific
atio
n of
inte
rnal
as
sess
men
t
5 qual
ity
cont
rol o
f ex
tern
al
asse
ssm
ent
6 valid
atio
n of
SQ
A
qual
ifica
tions
To b
ecom
e an
SQ
A c
entre
you
nee
d to
be
able
to
show
us y
our p
oten
tial t
o m
eet y
our
resp
onsi
bilit
ies u
nder
thes
e th
ree
proc
esse
s
To c
ontin
ue to
be
an S
QA
cen
tre, y
ou n
eed
to
show
us t
hat y
ou a
re c
onsi
sten
tly m
eetin
g yo
ur
resp
onsi
bilit
ies
For e
ach
new
qua
lific
atio
n w
hich
you
wis
h to
of
fer,
you
will
nee
d to
show
aga
in y
our
pote
ntia
l to
mee
t the
spec
ific
qual
ifica
tion
appr
oval
crit
eria
If y
ou a
re o
ffer
ing
SQA
ext
erna
l exa
min
atio
ns
to c
andi
date
s, th
en y
ou n
eed
to m
eet a
dditi
onal
cr
iteria
Cen
tres w
ith d
evol
ved
auth
ority
for a
ppro
val
yo
u ta
ke o
n bo
th c
entre
and
SQ
A
resp
onsi
bilit
ies
Cen
tres w
ith d
evol
ved
auth
ority
for v
alid
atio
n
yo
u ta
ke o
n bo
th
cent
re a
nd S
QA
re
spon
sibi
litie
s
On
the
follo
win
g pa
ges,
we
have
set o
ut th
e cr
iteria
for e
ach
proc
ess,
and
outli
ned
cent
re a
nd S
QA
resp
onsi
bilit
ies i
n re
latio
n to
eac
h cr
iterio
n.
10
The
qual
ity p
roce
sses
and
crit
eria
Proc
ess
1: M
anag
emen
t of a
n SQ
A c
entr
e Fo
r cen
tres n
ot y
et a
ppro
ved,
the
pote
ntia
l to
mee
t the
se c
riter
ia m
ust b
e de
mon
stra
ted.
Fol
low
ing
appr
oval
, SQ
A w
ill h
elp
you
to e
nsur
e th
at
you
cont
inue
to m
eet t
he c
riter
ia b
y pr
ovid
ing
ongo
ing
mon
itorin
g an
d su
ppor
t. C
rite
rion
T
he c
entr
e SQ
A
1.1
Qua
lity
assu
ranc
e is
man
aged
ef
fect
ivel
y an
d p
roce
sses
whi
ch
supp
ort a
ll SQ
A qu
alifi
catio
ns a
re
revi
ewed
and
con
tinuo
usly
impr
oved
a) m
anag
es e
ffec
tivel
y th
e in
tern
al p
roce
sses
w
hich
und
erpi
n SQ
A p
rovi
sion
re
view
s and
upd
ates
inte
rnal
qua
lity
assu
ranc
e pr
oces
ses a
s req
uire
d
a) p
rovi
des i
nfor
mat
ion,
gui
danc
e an
d su
ppor
t on
qual
ity a
ssur
ance
re
quire
men
ts to
cen
tres
b) m
onito
rs c
entre
s’ q
ualit
y as
sura
nce
proc
esse
s co
nsul
ts w
ith st
akeh
olde
rs a
nd ta
kes a
ctio
n on
feed
back
1.
2 In
form
atio
n is
man
aged
effe
ctiv
ely
with
in th
e ce
ntre
and
bet
wee
n th
e ce
ntre
and
SQ
A
a) h
as d
ocum
ente
d sy
stem
s in
plac
e to
ens
ure
that
in
form
atio
n is
tran
sfer
red
betw
een
the
cent
re
and
SQA
at t
he a
ppro
pria
te ti
mes
b) r
ecor
ds a
nd st
ores
info
rmat
ion
on S
QA
qu
alifi
catio
ns, p
roce
dura
l req
uire
men
ts a
nd
cand
idat
es in
acc
orda
nce
with
cur
rent
le
gisl
atio
n on
dat
a pr
otec
tion
c) r
etai
ns a
reco
rd o
f all
curr
ent c
andi
date
ad
dres
ses f
or c
ertif
icat
ion
purp
oses
d) d
isse
min
ates
SQ
A re
late
d in
form
atio
n to
staf
f an
d ca
ndid
ates
e) c
ompl
ies w
ith S
QA
requ
irem
ents
for e
nsur
ing
that
exi
stin
g ca
ndid
ates
use
the
corr
ect S
cotti
sh
Can
dida
te N
umbe
rs a
nd fo
r allo
catin
g SC
Ns t
o ne
w c
andi
date
s
a) p
rovi
des i
nfor
mat
ion
on S
QA
requ
irem
ents
, eg
qual
ifica
tion
info
rmat
ion
incl
udin
g ar
rang
emen
ts d
ocum
ents
and
Uni
t sp
ecifi
catio
ns
b) p
roce
sses
info
rmat
ion
rece
ived
from
cen
tres
c) m
aint
ains
a c
ompr
ehen
sive
reco
rd o
f can
dida
te a
chie
vem
ent
d) i
ssue
s res
ults
dat
a an
d ce
rtific
ates
acc
urat
ely
in a
ccor
danc
e w
ith
publ
ishe
d tim
esca
les
1.3
Reso
urce
s are
man
aged
effe
ctiv
ely
a)
ensu
res t
hat s
taff
are
and
con
tinue
to b
e co
mpe
tent
in th
e su
bjec
t/occ
upat
iona
l are
as
with
in w
hich
they
ope
rate
and
that
they
are
co
mpe
tent
to a
sses
s and
inte
rnal
ly m
oder
ate,
us
ing
appr
opria
te a
sses
smen
t app
roac
hes
a) a
ppro
ves a
sses
smen
t and
qua
lity
assu
ranc
e pr
oces
ses w
ithin
c
entre
s an
d m
onito
rs th
em fo
r con
tinui
ng c
ompl
ianc
e
b)
pro
vide
s acc
omm
odat
ion,
refe
renc
e m
ater
ial,
equi
pmen
t, le
arni
ng a
nd a
sses
smen
t mat
eria
l,
11
Cri
teri
on
The
cen
tre
SQA
in
clud
ing
ICT,
whi
ch su
ppor
t the
ass
essm
ent o
f SQ
A q
ualif
icat
ions
c) r
evie
ws a
sses
smen
t mat
eria
ls a
nd le
arni
ng
reso
urce
s to
ensu
re th
at th
ey c
ontin
ue to
supp
ort
appr
opria
te a
sses
smen
t app
roac
hes f
or S
QA
qu
alifi
catio
ns
d) m
aint
ains
fina
ncia
l via
bilit
y to
ens
ure
that
co
ntra
cts w
ith c
andi
date
s and
SQ
A a
re fu
lfille
d 1.
4 Th
ere
are
arra
ngem
ents
in p
lace
for
the
man
agem
ent o
f ext
erna
l qua
lity
assu
ranc
e of
SQ
A qu
alifi
catio
ns
a) e
nsur
es th
at st
aff u
nder
stan
d th
e pr
oces
s and
SQ
A re
quire
men
ts
b) a
llow
s SQ
A st
aff a
cces
s to
the
cent
re, s
ites a
nd
elec
troni
c as
sess
men
t sys
tem
s, as
requ
este
d by
SQ
A
c) m
akes
ava
ilabl
e m
ater
ials
in th
e rig
ht lo
catio
ns
and
form
ats,
incl
udin
g re
mot
e ac
cess
d) t
akes
act
ion
on fe
edba
ck fr
om th
e ex
tern
al
qual
ity a
ssur
ance
pro
cess
a) m
akes
ava
ilabl
e in
form
atio
n on
ext
erna
l qua
lity
assu
ranc
e re
quire
men
ts
1.5
Ther
e ar
e sy
stem
s in
plac
e fo
r the
m
anag
emen
t of:
♦ c
andi
date
indu
ctio
n, g
uida
nce
and
supp
ort
♦ a
ppro
pria
te a
sses
smen
t ar
rang
emen
ts fo
r can
dida
tes w
ith
disa
bilit
ies a
nd/o
r add
ition
al
supp
ort n
eeds
a) m
akes
cur
ricul
ar, v
ocat
iona
l and
qua
lific
atio
n-re
late
d gu
idan
ce a
nd su
ppor
t ava
ilabl
e to
ca
ndid
ates
b) m
akes
mat
eria
l rel
atin
g to
SQ
A q
ualif
icat
ions
av
aila
ble
to c
andi
date
s
c) p
rovi
des s
uita
ble
oppo
rtuni
ties f
or re
med
iatio
n an
d re
asse
ssm
ent
d) p
rovi
des c
andi
date
s with
a fo
rmal
stat
emen
t sp
ecify
ing
its o
ngoi
ng re
spon
sibi
litie
s to
them
in
rela
tion
to in
duct
ion,
gui
danc
e an
d su
ppor
t
e) d
emon
stra
tes a
com
mitm
ent t
o eq
ual
oppo
rtuni
ty in
the
sele
ctio
n, a
dmis
sion
, sup
port
and
asse
ssm
ent o
f can
dida
tes
f)
seek
s SQ
A a
ppro
val f
or a
sses
smen
t ar
rang
emen
ts a
nd im
plem
ents
thes
e ar
rang
emen
ts a
s agr
eed
a) m
onito
rs p
roce
sses
with
in c
entre
s
b) g
ives
targ
eted
info
rmat
ion
and
guid
ance
to c
entre
s and
oth
er
stak
ehol
ders
as r
equi
red
c) p
rovi
des g
uida
nce
on p
ossi
ble
asse
ssm
ent a
rran
gem
ents
for
cand
idat
es w
ith d
isab
ilitie
s and
/or a
dditi
onal
supp
ort n
eeds
d) m
onito
rs a
nd v
erifi
es a
ppro
pria
te a
rran
gem
ents
for c
andi
date
s with
di
sabi
litie
s and
/or a
dditi
onal
supp
ort n
eeds
e) m
akes
fair
and
cons
iste
nt d
ecis
ions
on
indi
vidu
al c
ases
subm
itted
by
the
cent
re
f)
mon
itors
the
effe
ctiv
enes
s of s
uppo
rt pr
ovid
ed fo
r can
dida
tes
g) m
onito
rs th
e ef
fect
iven
ess o
f equ
al o
ppor
tuni
ties p
roce
dure
s in
cent
res
12
Cri
teri
on
The
cen
tre
SQA
g) r
etai
ns e
vide
nce
just
ifyin
g th
e ne
ed fo
r as
sess
men
t arr
ange
men
ts
h) o
ffer
s a c
ompl
aint
s/gr
ieva
nce
proc
ess t
o ca
ndid
ates
on
mat
ters
not
dire
ctly
invo
lvin
g as
sess
men
t dec
isio
ns
1.6
Ther
e is
a sy
stem
for t
he
man
agem
ent o
f can
dida
te a
ppea
ls
agai
nst i
nter
nal a
sses
smen
t de
cisi
ons
a) o
pera
tes a
satis
fact
ory
inte
rnal
ass
essm
ent
appe
als p
roce
dure
for c
andi
date
s
b) d
isse
min
ates
info
rmat
ion
on th
e ap
peal
s pr
oced
ures
to st
aff a
nd c
andi
date
s
c) m
aint
ains
reco
rds o
f app
eals
a) e
nsur
es th
at th
e ce
ntre
has
an
appe
als p
roce
dure
for i
nter
nal a
sses
smen
t de
cisi
ons
b) m
onito
rs th
e op
erat
ion,
dis
sem
inat
ion
and
reco
rdin
g of
the
syst
em
13
Proc
ess
2: A
ppro
val t
o of
fer s
peci
fic S
QA
qua
lific
atio
ns
Cri
teri
on
The
cen
tre
SQA
2.
1 An
app
rova
l pro
cess
for s
peci
fic
SQA
qual
ifica
tions
is d
efin
ed a
nd
docu
men
ted
a) d
efin
es in
tern
al p
roce
sses
whi
ch u
nder
pin
spec
ific
qual
ifica
tions
app
rova
l
b) r
ecor
ds a
nd st
ores
info
rmat
ion
on o
btai
ning
ap
prov
al fo
r spe
cific
qua
lific
atio
ns
a) d
efin
es p
roce
dure
s for
obt
aini
ng a
ppro
val f
or sp
ecifi
c qu
alifi
catio
ns
b) o
pera
tes a
n ap
prov
al sy
stem
to m
eet t
he re
quire
men
ts o
f cen
tres a
nd
qual
ifica
tions
c) m
onito
rs th
e ef
fect
iven
ess o
f the
cen
tre’s
app
rova
l pro
cess
d) r
ecor
ds a
nd st
ores
info
rmat
ion
rela
ting
to sp
ecifi
c qu
alifi
catio
n ap
prov
al
2.2
Reso
urce
s mee
t the
requ
irem
ents
of
: ♦
the
qua
lific
atio
ns
♦ t
he m
etho
d of
ass
essm
ent
♦ t
he n
umbe
r and
nee
ds o
f ca
ndid
ates
♦
the
mod
e(s)
of d
eliv
ery
a) p
rovi
des a
ccom
mod
atio
n an
d eq
uipm
ent w
hich
is
suita
ble
for t
he q
ualif
icat
ion
and
mod
e of
de
liver
y, a
nd ta
kes a
ccou
nt o
f tec
hnic
al/s
peci
alis
t ne
eds,
incl
udin
g IC
T sy
stem
s
b) f
or e
-ass
essm
ent,
ensu
res t
hat h
ardw
are
and
softw
are
com
ply
with
cur
rent
SQ
A sp
ecifi
catio
ns
and
stan
dard
s, in
clud
ing
met
hods
of
auth
entic
atin
g ca
ndid
ate
evid
ence
c) n
omin
ates
and
pro
vide
s suf
ficie
nt n
umbe
rs o
f qu
alifi
ed/ e
xper
ienc
ed st
aff t
o as
sess
and
ver
ify
inte
rnal
ass
essm
ents
and
est
imat
es
d) p
rovi
des a
ll ca
ndid
ates
with
acc
ess t
o le
arni
ng
oppo
rtuni
ties a
nd le
arni
ng a
nd re
fere
nce
mat
eria
ls w
hich
supp
ort t
he q
ualif
icat
ion
e) u
ses a
sses
smen
t mat
eria
l whi
ch is
app
ropr
iate
to
the
requ
irem
ents
of t
he q
ualif
icat
ion
and
asse
ssm
ent a
ppro
ache
s and
can
dida
tes’
lear
ning
an
d as
sess
men
t req
uire
men
ts
a) g
ives
gui
danc
e on
the
reso
urce
s req
uire
d fo
r spe
cific
SQ
A
qual
ifica
tions
b) a
ppro
ves r
esou
rces
for s
peci
fic q
ualif
icat
ions
, inc
ludi
ng st
aff n
omin
ated
as
ass
esso
rs a
nd in
tern
al v
erifi
ers,
and
mon
itors
them
for c
ontin
uing
co
mpl
ianc
e
Cen
tres w
ith d
evol
ved
auth
ority
for a
ppro
val m
ust:
♦ h
ave
and
oper
ate
an a
ppro
val p
roce
ss w
hich
has
pro
cedu
res t
o en
sure
that
all
appr
oval
pro
posa
ls a
re a
ppra
ised
aga
inst
the
appr
oval
crit
eria
for
the
cent
re a
s wel
l as a
ll of
the
crite
ria in
the
SQA
col
umn
♦ h
ave
docu
men
tatio
n de
scrib
ing
all a
ppro
vals
whi
ch h
ave
been
car
ried
out,
incl
udin
g th
e re
sult
of th
e ap
prai
sal a
gain
st e
ach
of th
e cr
iteria
for
the
cent
re a
s wel
l as a
ll of
the
crite
ria in
the
SQA
col
umn
♦ e
nsur
e th
at th
e ou
tcom
es o
f app
rova
ls a
re p
rom
ptly
repo
rted
to S
QA
14
Proc
ess
3: In
tern
al v
erifi
catio
n of
inte
rnal
ass
essm
ent
Cri
teri
on
The
cen
tre
SQA
3.
1 Th
e in
tern
al v
erifi
catio
n sy
stem
en
sure
s tha
t the
cen
tre’
s ass
essm
ents
of
inte
rnal
ly-a
sses
sed
qual
ifica
tions
ar
e va
lid a
nd re
liabl
e
a) e
nsur
es th
at th
e ch
osen
ass
essm
ent i
nstru
men
ts
and
asse
ssm
ent g
uide
lines
are
val
id a
nd
appl
ied
cons
iste
ntly
by
all a
sses
sors
for t
he
sam
e qu
alifi
catio
n ac
ross
all
cand
idat
es
b) d
emon
stra
tes t
hat a
rran
gem
ents
are
eff
ectiv
e fo
r the
safe
stor
age
of in
tern
al a
sses
smen
t m
ater
ials
c)
ens
ures
that
acc
ess t
o as
sess
men
t mat
eria
ls is
ef
fect
ivel
y m
anag
ed
d) e
nsur
es th
at th
e fin
al a
sses
smen
t dec
isio
ns
mad
e by
ass
esso
rs a
re a
ccur
ate,
relia
ble
and
reco
rded
e)
tak
es st
eps t
o m
inim
ise
the
risk
of p
lagi
aris
m
f)
ensu
res t
hat a
sses
smen
t evi
denc
e is
the
cand
idat
e’s o
wn
wor
k
a) p
rovi
des g
uida
nce
on b
est p
ract
ice
for i
nter
nal v
erifi
catio
n as
it a
pplie
s to
diff
eren
t typ
es o
f qua
lific
atio
ns
3.2
The
inte
rnal
ver
ifica
tion
syst
em is
re
view
ed to
ens
ure
effic
ient
and
ef
fect
ive
depl
oym
ent o
f int
erna
l ve
rifie
rs
a) m
onito
rs th
e ef
fect
iven
ess o
f the
ass
essm
ent
and
inte
rnal
ver
ifica
tion
syst
em a
nd
impl
emen
ts a
ny n
eces
sary
cha
nges
3.3
The
inte
rnal
ver
ifica
tion
syst
em
refle
cts d
evel
opm
ents
in S
QA’
s as
sess
men
t pol
icy
and
proc
edur
es
a) i
mpl
emen
ts a
ny c
hang
es m
ade
nece
ssar
y by
ch
ange
s to
SQA
pol
icy
a) i
ssue
s gui
danc
e in
rela
tion
to a
ny a
men
dmen
ts to
pol
icy
rela
ting
to
inte
rnal
ly-a
sses
sed
qual
ifica
tions
15
Proc
ess
4: E
xter
nal v
erifi
catio
n of
inte
rnal
ass
essm
ent
Cri
teri
on
The
cen
tre
SQA
4.
1 Th
e ex
tern
al v
erifi
catio
n sy
stem
en
sure
s tha
t the
re is
an
appr
opri
ate
leve
l of v
erifi
catio
n co
nduc
ted
for
each
qua
lific
atio
n ar
ea
a)
sel
ects
cen
tres a
nd q
ualif
icat
ions
for e
xter
nal v
erifi
catio
n b)
man
ages
the
verif
icat
ion
proc
ess
c)
repo
rts to
cen
tres o
n th
e re
sults
of e
xter
nal v
erifi
catio
n
4.2
The
exte
rnal
ver
ifica
tion
syst
em
ensu
res t
hat a
re su
ffici
ent v
erifi
ers
to a
llow
ver
ifica
tion
to ta
ke p
lace
a)
rec
ruits
, app
oint
s and
trai
ns su
ffic
ient
per
sonn
el w
ith th
e ap
prop
riate
su
bjec
t/occ
upat
iona
l and
ass
essm
ent e
xper
tise
4.
3 Th
e ex
tern
al v
erifi
catio
n sy
stem
en
sure
s tha
t ins
trum
ents
of
asse
ssm
ent a
re v
alid
and
relia
ble
and
that
the
cent
re’s
ass
essm
ent
deci
sion
s are
acc
urat
e
a) r
etai
ns a
ppro
pria
te e
vide
nce
until
agr
eed
disp
osal
dat
es
b) m
akes
ava
ilabl
e as
sess
men
t ins
trum
ents
, as
sess
men
t gui
delin
es, c
andi
date
evi
denc
e an
d as
sess
men
t dec
isio
ns fo
r a sa
mpl
e of
ca
ndid
ates
in th
e fo
rmat
and
loca
tion
requ
este
d by
SQ
A, i
nclu
ding
rem
ote
verif
icat
ion
c) p
rovi
des e
vide
nce
that
inte
rnal
ver
ifica
tion
is
bein
g ap
plie
d to
all
qual
ifica
tions
whi
ch a
re
inte
rnal
ly a
sses
sed
d) a
cts o
n an
y ve
rific
atio
n fe
edba
ck p
rovi
ded
by
SQA
a) s
elec
ts th
e ap
prop
riate
form
of v
erifi
catio
n fo
r the
par
ticul
ar
qual
ifica
tions
bei
ng m
oder
ated
b)
acc
epts
cen
tres’
ass
essm
ent d
ecis
ions
whi
ch a
re in
acc
orda
nce
with
the
natio
nal s
tand
ards
and
ass
ists
cen
tres i
n ac
hiev
ing
natio
nal s
tand
ards
w
here
thei
r ass
essm
ent d
ecis
ions
hav
e no
t bee
n ac
cept
ed
c) p
rovi
des f
eedb
ack
and
supp
ort t
o ce
ntre
s d)
ove
rsee
s the
con
duct
of v
erifi
catio
n
4.4
The
veri
ficat
ion
syst
em e
nsur
es th
at
reco
rds o
f all
veri
ficat
ion
activ
ity
are
com
plet
e an
d ac
cura
te
a)
rec
ords
and
stor
es re
ports
on
each
ver
ifica
tion
cond
ucte
d to
info
rm fu
ture
se
lect
ions
4.5
The
veri
ficat
ion
syst
em is
revi
ewed
to
ens
ure
effic
ient
and
effe
ctiv
e de
ploy
men
t of v
erifi
ers
a) a
ssis
ts S
QA
by
prov
idin
g fe
edba
ck
a) r
ecor
ds a
nd st
ores
repo
rts o
n ea
ch v
erifi
catio
n co
nduc
ted
to in
form
futu
re
sele
ctio
ns
b) m
onito
rs th
e pe
rfor
man
ce o
f ver
ifier
s c)
ens
ures
that
ver
ifier
s rem
ain
com
pete
nt b
y id
entif
ying
and
mee
ting
verif
icat
ion
team
and
indi
vidu
al tr
aini
ng n
eeds
and
con
tribu
ting
to
Con
tinui
ng P
rofe
ssio
nal D
evel
opm
ent
d) e
nsur
es th
at v
erifi
ers a
re c
onsi
sten
t in
verif
icat
ion
deci
sion
s and
are
kep
t up
to d
ate
with
ass
essm
ent p
ract
ice
in th
eir v
erifi
catio
n gr
oup,
incl
udin
g el
ectro
nic
asse
ssm
ent a
ppro
ache
s
16
Cri
teri
on
The
cen
tre
SQA
4.
6 Th
e ve
rific
atio
n sy
stem
refle
cts
deve
lopm
ents
in a
sses
smen
t pol
icy
and
proc
edur
es
a)
kee
ps v
erifi
catio
n un
der r
evie
w, t
akin
g ac
coun
t of d
evel
opm
ents
in
tech
nolo
gy a
nd p
erso
nalis
ed le
arni
ng
b) n
otifi
es a
ll pa
rties
con
cern
ed o
f any
pol
icy
and
proc
edur
al c
hang
es
rela
ting
to v
erifi
catio
n c)
ide
ntifi
es a
nd m
eets
trai
ning
nee
ds fo
r ver
ifier
s whi
ch re
sult
from
de
velo
pmen
ts in
pol
icy
and
proc
edur
es le
adin
g to
new
app
roac
hes t
o as
sess
men
t and
ext
erna
l ver
ifica
tion
in re
latio
n to
inte
rnal
ly-a
sses
sed
qual
ifica
tions
17
Proc
ess
5: Q
ualit
y co
ntro
l of e
xter
nal a
sses
smen
t C
rite
rion
T
he c
entr
e SQ
A
5.1
Exte
rnal
ass
essm
ent p
roce
dure
s are
de
fined
a)
dis
sem
inat
es in
tern
ally
, and
stor
es in
form
atio
n on
exa
min
atio
n pr
oced
ures
and
tim
etab
les
b) d
ocum
ents
its a
rran
gem
ents
for a
cces
s for
SQ
A q
ualit
y as
sura
nce
staf
f
a) e
xpla
ins i
ts e
xter
nal a
sses
smen
t pro
cedu
res a
nd p
ublis
hes s
peci
fic
info
rmat
ion
on th
e ex
amin
atio
n in
goo
d tim
e
5.2
Reso
urce
s are
suffi
cien
t to
supp
ort
exte
rnal
ass
essm
ent
a) n
omin
ates
invi
gila
tors
b)
whe
n re
ques
ted,
rele
ases
staf
f to
SQA
whe
re
poss
ible
c)
pro
vide
s sui
tabl
e ac
com
mod
atio
n an
d fa
cilit
ies t
o m
eet t
he a
sses
smen
t nee
ds o
f all
cand
idat
es a
nd m
odes
of a
sses
smen
t d)
ens
ures
that
exa
min
atio
n m
ater
ials
and
ca
ndid
ate
asse
ssm
ents
(inc
ludi
ng sc
ripts
and
el
ectro
nica
lly-s
tore
d ev
iden
ce) a
re se
cure
ly
stor
ed u
ntil
disp
atch
a) m
aint
ains
syst
ems f
or p
roce
ssin
g ex
tern
al a
sses
smen
t inc
ludi
ng
asse
ssm
ent a
rran
gem
ents
for c
andi
date
s with
dis
abili
ties a
nd/o
r add
ition
al
supp
ort n
eeds
b)
app
oint
s and
trai
ns su
ffic
ient
per
sonn
el w
ith a
ppro
pria
te e
xper
tise
to c
arry
ou
t rol
es in
clud
ing:
♦
pr
inci
pal a
sses
sor
♦
exam
iner
♦
se
tter
♦
vette
r ♦
sc
rutin
eer
♦
mar
ker
♦
invi
gila
tor
5.3
Asse
ssm
ent i
nstr
umen
ts a
re
acce
ssib
le, v
alid
, pra
ctic
able
and
co
st-e
ffect
ive
and
thei
r mar
king
is
relia
ble
a) e
nsur
es th
at c
andi
date
s are
info
rmed
of t
he
asse
ssm
ent c
riter
ia a
nd m
ode
and
form
at o
f as
sess
men
t by
whi
ch th
ey w
ill b
e as
sess
ed
b) s
ubm
its a
ccur
ate
entry
det
ails
and
, whe
re
appr
opria
te, e
stim
ates
of p
erfo
rman
ce fo
r eac
h ca
ndid
ate
c) t
akes
app
ropr
iate
step
s to
min
imis
e th
e ris
k of
pl
agia
rism
d)
ens
ures
that
ass
essm
ent e
vide
nce
is th
e ca
ndid
ate’
s ow
n w
ork
e) r
espo
nds t
o re
ques
ts fo
r fee
dbac
k
a) e
nsur
es th
at it
s ass
essm
ent i
nstru
men
ts c
onfo
rm in
all
resp
ects
to th
e as
sess
men
t arr
ange
men
ts
b) s
crut
inis
es th
e qu
ality
of w
ork
of e
ach
mar
ker a
nd ta
kes a
ctio
n w
here
re
quire
d c)
dec
ides
gra
de b
ound
arie
s usi
ng a
ll re
leva
nt in
form
atio
n an
d ex
perti
se in
or
der t
o m
aint
ain
com
para
bilit
y of
yea
r-to
-yea
r sta
ndar
ds
d) s
eeks
and
pro
vide
s sys
tem
atic
feed
back
on
the
qual
ity o
f ext
erna
l as
sess
men
ts
5.4
Aw
ards
may
be
revi
ewed
thro
ugh
an A
sses
smen
t App
eals
pro
cess
a)
sub
mits
Ass
essm
ent A
ppea
l req
uest
s whi
ch
are
supp
orte
d by
val
id a
nd re
liabl
e al
tern
ativ
e ev
iden
ce
a) c
arrie
s out
a p
re-r
esul
ts re
view
of a
war
ds fo
r all
cand
idat
es
b) c
arrie
s out
pos
t-res
ults
Ass
essm
ent A
ppea
ls a
nd p
rom
ptly
repo
rts th
e ou
tcom
es to
cen
tres
18
Proc
ess
6: V
alid
atio
n of
SQ
A q
ualif
icat
ions
C
rite
rion
T
he c
entr
e SQ
A
6.1
The
valid
atio
n pr
oces
s for
qu
alifi
catio
ns is
def
ined
and
in th
e pu
blic
dom
ain
a) e
nsur
es th
at su
bmis
sion
s to
SQA
of l
ocal
ly-
devi
sed
prop
osal
s for
val
idat
ion
com
ply
with
th
e SQ
A’s
syst
em, p
roce
dure
s and
tim
esca
les
a) o
pera
tes a
val
idat
ion
syst
em
b) p
ublis
hes t
he sy
stem
, pro
cedu
res a
nd ti
mes
cale
s for
the
valid
atio
n of
new
and
re
vise
d qu
alifi
catio
ns a
nd m
akes
them
kno
wn
to c
entre
s 6.
2 Th
e qu
alifi
catio
n co
nfor
ms t
o th
e SQ
A de
sign
rule
s and
pri
ncip
les a
nd
othe
r tec
hnic
al re
quir
emen
ts w
hich
ar
e cu
rren
t at t
he ti
me
of it
s va
lidat
ion
a) u
ses S
QA
’s d
esig
n ru
les a
nd p
rinci
ples
and
ot
her t
echn
ical
requ
irem
ents
as t
he b
asis
for
deve
lopm
ent o
f pro
pose
d qu
alifi
catio
ns to
be
subm
itted
to S
QA
for v
alid
atio
n
a) p
ublis
hes d
esig
n ru
les a
nd p
rinci
ples
and
oth
er te
chni
cal r
equi
rem
ents
and
gu
idan
ce o
n th
eir u
se
b) d
evel
ops q
ualif
icat
ions
and
val
idat
es th
em to
ens
ure
that
all
of th
ese
qual
ifica
tions
com
ply
with
the
desi
gn ru
les a
nd p
rinci
ples
and
the
tech
nica
l re
quire
men
ts*
6.3
Ther
e is
a d
emon
stra
ble
need
for t
he
qual
ifica
tion
whi
ch fi
lls a
gap
in th
e qu
alifi
catio
ns fr
amew
ork
and
mak
es
a va
luab
le a
nd u
niqu
e co
ntri
butio
n to
SQ
A’s p
ortfo
lio o
f qua
lific
atio
ns
a)
wor
ks w
ith st
akeh
olde
rs to
iden
tify
the
qual
ifica
tions
requ
ired
to m
eet t
he
need
s of S
cotti
sh so
ciet
y*
b) c
onsu
lts w
ith a
ppro
pria
te b
odie
s to
iden
tify
the
need
for t
he q
ualif
icat
ion*
c)
ope
rate
s a sy
stem
of c
olle
ctin
g fe
edba
ck fr
om st
akeh
olde
rs to
regu
larly
revi
ew
the
qual
ifica
tions
and
eng
age
in a
pro
gram
me
of u
pdat
ing
6.4
The
qual
ifica
tion
is a
cces
sibl
e to
all
cand
idat
es w
ho c
ould
pot
entia
lly
achi
eve
it
a) e
nsur
es th
at a
ll qu
alifi
catio
ns w
hich
it v
alid
ates
are
free
from
unn
eces
sary
ba
rrie
rs to
ach
ieve
men
t*
b) c
ondu
cts r
egul
ar re
view
s of c
ompe
tenc
es to
ens
ure
that
they
are
not
di
scrim
inat
ory*
6.
5 Th
e qu
alifi
catio
n re
quir
es a
ca
ndid
ate
to d
emon
stra
te
sign
ifica
nt, a
chie
vabl
e ou
tcom
es in
a
reco
gnis
ed c
urri
cula
r or
voca
tiona
l are
a
a)
en
sure
s tha
t qua
lific
atio
ns w
hich
it v
alid
ates
mee
t thi
s crit
erio
n*
b) e
nsur
es th
at q
ualif
icat
ions
whi
ch it
val
idat
es h
ave
asse
ssm
ent a
rran
gem
ents
ap
prop
riate
to th
e ou
tcom
es w
hich
can
dida
tes m
ust d
emon
stra
te*
c) o
pera
tes a
feed
back
syst
em to
col
lect
stak
ehol
ders
’ vie
ws o
n th
e ex
tent
to
whi
ch N
atio
nal a
nd H
ighe
r Nat
iona
l Qua
lific
atio
ns m
eet t
his c
riter
ion*
6.
6 Th
e qu
alifi
catio
n is
coh
eren
t and
its
title
acc
urat
ely
refle
cts i
ts c
onte
nt
a)
en
sure
s tha
t qua
lific
atio
ns w
hich
it v
alid
ates
mee
t thi
s crit
erio
n*
b) o
pera
tes a
feed
back
syst
em to
col
lect
stak
ehol
ders
’ vie
ws o
n th
e ex
tent
to
whi
ch q
ualif
icat
ions
mee
t thi
s crit
erio
n*
Cen
tres w
ith d
evol
ved
auth
ority
for v
alid
atio
n of
qua
lific
atio
ns m
ust:
♦ h
ave
and
oper
ate
a sy
stem
and
pro
cedu
res w
hich
ens
ure
that
all
valid
atio
ns a
re a
ppra
ised
aga
inst
the
valid
atio
n cr
iteria
in th
e co
lum
n fo
r ce
ntre
s as w
ell a
s the
crit
eria
mar
ked
‘*’ i
n th
e SQ
A c
olum
n ♦
hav
e do
cum
enta
tion
desc
ribin
g al
l val
idat
ions
car
ried
out,
incl
udin
g th
e re
sult
of th
e ap
prai
sal o
f the
pro
pose
d ne
w o
r rev
ised
qua
lific
atio
n ag
ains
t eac
h of
the
crite
ria in
the
colu
mn
for c
entre
s as w
ell a
s the
crit
eria
mar
ked
‘*’ i
n th
e SQ
A c
olum
n ♦
ens
ure
that
the
outc
ome
of d
evol
ved
valid
atio
ns is
pro
mpt
ly re
porte
d to
SQ
A
19
