SQA Special Assessment Arrangements for Sensory Impaired Pupils
Presented on Wednesday 26 June 2013
- Introduction
- Specification 1 - Course Assessment
- Specification 2 - Set Question Papers
- Specification 3 - Literacy Units
- Specification 4 - Modern Languages & Gaelic Learners
- Specification 5 - British Sign Language
- Specification 6 - Communication Units
- Summary
Introduction
What are your concerns?
What Next?
SQA required to make reasonable adjustments for disabled candidates to remove the effects of a "substantial disadvantage" in an assessment.
A reasonable adjustment may be unique to the individual candidate and may not be a commonly requested assessment arrangement.
"Reasonableness" depends on the needs of the disabled candidate.
An adjustment might not be reasonable if it affects the security of the assessment or affects the competence or ability being assessed.
Legislation also gives SQA a regulatory power to specify and publish where reasonable adjustments to National Qualifications should not be made.
SQA has consulted on its proposals to exercise this power.
SQA has published these: www.sqa.org.uk/equalityact.
In making the specifications, SQA has taken account of the need to:
- minimise the extent to which disabled candidates are disadvantaged in attaining the qualification because of their disabilities
- secure that the qualification gives a reliable indication of the knowledge, skills and understanding of the candidate
- maintain public confidence in the qualification
Specification 1 - Course Assessment
essment
In relation to National Courses at National 5 to Advanced Higher, exemption of an assessment component which comprises 30% or more of the total Course assessment will not be a reasonable adjustment.
Specification 2 - Set Question Papers
In relation to National Courses at National 5 to Advanced Higher, the explanation of words or questions to candidates in a SQA-set question paper will not be a reasonable adjustment.
Specification 3 - Literacy Units
In relation to the National Literacy Units at all levels:
(i) exemption from demonstrating any of the four assessed skills of reading, writing, listening or talking will not be a reasonable adjustment and
(ii) using human readers and scribes will not be reasonable adjustments where reading and writing abilities are being explicitly assessed.
Specification 4 - Modern Languages & Gaelic Learners
In relation to National Units and Courses in Modern Languages and Gaelic (Learners) at all levels, human scribes or speech-recognition software will not be reasonable adjustments where the ability to write with technical accuracy in the target language is being explicitly assessed.
Specification 5 - British Sign Language
In relation to National Units and Courses in Gaidhlig, Gaelic (Learners) and Modern Languages at all levels, using British Sign Language (BSL) to demonstrate reading, writing, talking or listening abilities in the particular language being assessed will not be a reasonable adjustment.
Specification 6 - Communication Units
In relation to National Core Skills Communication Units and to National Certificate Communication Units, exemption from demonstrating abilities in reading, writing, listening or speaking will not be a reasonable adjustment.
Summary
BSL allowed in all subjects at all levels except: Modern Languages, Gaelic and Gaidhlig.
BSL allowed for Talking and Listening in New Literacy Units.
Any Questions?
What Next?