Review - Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research

Registering
bodies
As an awarding body, SQA is responsible for the approval of centres, production of
guidance material, external verification and the certification of candidates. It has
mandatory standards for qualifications and assessment, including a broad indication
of where each qualification sits in the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework
(SCQF), which provides a national benchmark of Scottish qualifications. The way in
which SQA sets and revises standards is contained in its Qualifications Development
Strategy (currently under revision). This applies to any centre offering SQA
qualifications but additional approval and verification criteria and procedures for
SVQs may be agreed with the appropriate Sector Skill Council.
Sector Skills Councils or standard setting bodies are government sponsored industry
bodies made up of trade bodies, employers and specialists. They draw up national
standards of competence, known as national occupational standards, and agree with
the four UK regulatory bodies how these standards will be used in the development
of vocational qualifications. They are also responsible for the qualification structure
and assessment strategy. These are presented to the UK Co-ordinating Group
(UKCG), of which SQA is a member, to ensure UK wide compatibility.
Once UKCG has approved the national occupational standards, structures and
assessment strategy, awarding bodies can then pick these up and prepare a
submission for accreditation. The submission is judged against the awarding body
criteria (2007), which involves looking at the awarding body’s quality assurance
arrangements, assessment methodology, assessment guidance materials and
marketing information.
SQA Accreditation, which is an autonomous arm of SQA, has the statutory role of
approving awarding bodies, including SQA, to offer specific SVQs and to audit
them annually to ensure consistency. It also accredits specific SVQ arrangements in
relation to assessment, quality assurance, verification, marketing and support.
National occupational standards have also become increasingly important in other
vocational qualifications, such as higher national certificates and diplomas,
professional development awards, national certificates and national progression
awards because part of a qualification’s ‘fitness for purpose’ is to prepare candidates
for work (see using national occupational standards in the development of SQA
group awards).
Accrediting
bodies
As a statutory body, SQA is accountable to the Scottish Government’s education and
lifelong learning directorates.
SQA is also an awarding body for vocational qualifications in England, Wales and
Northern Ireland. This provision must meet the quality standards of the regulatory
body Ofqual.
Training
organisations
Quality
assurance
approach
Any training organisation must meet specific criteria to be an approved SQA centre.
These relate to the management procedures and resources which underpin the
implementation and assessment of SQA qualifications. SQA’s Quality framework: a
guide for centres describes SQA's quality framework and summarises the
responsibilities of each centre. These apply to all its vocational provision, although
there may be additional requirements for SVQs.
SQA awarding body quality assurance system
SQA’s primary role is the assessment of learning against national standards to
provide individuals with worthwhile qualifications to meet their educational and
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