Firms ‘developing own assessments’ amid confusion over National 4

ANDREW DENHOLM

committee she raised the issue with Dr Janet Brown, chief executive of the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA).

She said: “A lot of employers are telling me they are going to devise their own assessments when they are trying to recruit people because they really don’t understand it any more. So what are you doing about that?”

Ms Brown said the SQA had engaged with businesses throughout the development of the new qualifications.

She said: “Working with employers is a critical part of what we do.

“Businesses are comfortable with the concept of internal and ongoing assessment as used in National 4.

“I think what we’ve seen over the last couple of years is an increasing concern about how National 4 is perceived and we need to go back and have that further discussion with them.”

National 4s were brought in as part of the Curriculum for Excellence along with National 5s to replace Standard Grade courses.

However, they have proved unpopular with parents and teachers because they do not have an external exam and are therefore seen as inferior.

Ms Brown told the committee the SQA had carried out research on National 4s which showed a difference of opinion on what should be done to improve the qualification.

However, she accepted a “significant proportion” of teachers believed there should be an external assessment – in some cases exams – at the end of the qualification to raise its status.

She added: “Those opinions vary from the fact that learners and some teachers both felt that not having an exam for National 4 was an appropriate way of doing it as it prepared people for a different pathway, potentially going into college and other vocational qualifications that are internally assessed, while others felt that the lack of an exam was an issue that needed to be addressed.”

Repeatedly asked if the SQA would give an opinion on National 4 she replied: “The

SQA will be giving the pros and cons of the different options that will be available.”

The future of National 4 and whether it should have an exam is currently under review, but no changes are expected until the 2019/20 school year.