Powerpoint by Martyn Ware of SQA at the Assessment Summit at SQA Glasgow, 20th March 2014.

1. 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

2. 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

3. Engaging with learners
• Overviews
• Ongoing engagement
• Services for learners
- Website
- Results services plus
- Formative assessment

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. www.sqa.org.uk
• Learners now recognised as key user group
• Information specifically for learners
• Distinguish between centre type
• Provides links to other services

15. 2012 2013
MySQA
NQ candidates 45 849 46 037
Other candidates 76 718 102 004
App downloads
Exam timetable 37 702 57 612
Study planner 36 752 57 733

16. 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

24. 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

25. Thank you
Martyn.ware@sqa.org.uk