New National Qualification Announced

The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning recently announced changes to Scotland's National Qualifications which will be introduced from 2012/13 onwards

The changes aim to deliver qualifications that reflect Scotland's new approach to teaching and learning with a more streamlined system, which is simpler for pupils, parents and employers to understand.

The changes will that:                                                                                                                                      

• The National award will replace Intermediate and Standard Grade.
• New National Literacy and National Numeracy awards will be introduced, to be taken from S3 onwards.
• The existing Access, Higher and Advanced Higher qualifications will all be retained and updated to fully reflect Curriculum for Excellence.

The new qualifications at Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) levels 4 and 5 will replace Standard Grade General and Credit and Intermediate 1 and 2 qualifications. The new qualifications are designed to

• reflect the values, purposes and principles of Curriculum for Excellence
• develop skills for learning, life and work.
• offer increased flexibility, provide more time for learning, more focus on skills and applying learning, and more scope for personalisation.

 Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, Fiona Hyslop MSP, said: 'Scotland needs a new generation of national qualifications that will equip our young people with the skills and knowledge they need to rise to the challenges of 21st Century society.'

The full press release can be found on the Scottish Government's website

 New Qualifications Press Release