Aims of the Scottish Science and Languages Baccalaureates

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Aims of the Scottish Science and Languages
Baccalaureates

• promote sciences and languages as valued and
  important areas for study and employment
• raise the status and value of S6 and motivate
  learners in their last year of school
• provide qualifications which are valued for entry
  to higher education
• provide a bridge between school and higher
  education/employment
• encourage collaboration between schools and
  further/higher education institutions

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Aims of the Scottish Science and Languages
Baccalaureates

• encourage greater coherence in study in fifth and
  sixth years
• allow learners to relate and apply learning to
  realistic contexts
• enable learners to compete in the international
  job market
• develop the generic skills needed for learning,
  life and work

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Development work

• Phases
• JuneNovember
• developing the qualification
• December-April
• validating and launching the qualification
• developing support materials
• May-September (and throughout year 1)
• supporting centres to implement the qualification
  

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Key activities phase 1 June- Nov

• Engagement with stakeholders
• Communication
• Qualification development

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Engagement

• Phase 1 engagement aims
• to raise awareness
• to seek advice to inform development and
  implementation
• identify and support centres planning to
  implement in August 2009

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Engagement phase 1 outcome

• Strong support for
• introducing the Baccalaureates
• rationale, broad aims and emphasis on high level
  generic and cognitive skills development
• Confirmation that the final Specifications
  needed
• level of demand necessary for currency and
  credibility with Higher Education and employers
• added value and broadening experience to attract
  learners
• flexibility to be accessible to centres and
  learners working at Advanced Higher level in
  Science and Languages

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Design specification
Languages
Science

• Mandatory components
• 2 AH Courses
• 1 Higher Course
• AH Interdisciplinary Project Unit
• (graded A,B or C)
• Must include
• two eligible modern/classical
• Language Courses
• English/ESOL/Gaidhlig Course

• Mandatory components
• 2 AH Courses
• 1 Higher Course
• AH Interdisciplinary Project Unit
• (graded A,B or C)
• Must include
• two eligible Science Courses
• Maths/Applied Maths Course

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Design specification

• The Scottish Science and Scottish Languages
  Baccalaureate
• award will be
• Pass or Distinction
• Criteria for Distinction
• Grade A in one eligible Advanced Higher Course
• Grade A in one other component of the
  Baccalaureate
• Grade B or above in all other mandatory
  components

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Development Milestones, 2009

• 31 January Database of centres planning
  to offer in 2009
• 2 March HEI event
• 4 March Support event for early adopters
• End March Development of support materials
• End March Publication of Baccalaureate
  Arrangements and Specifications on SQAs
  website
• End April UCAS tariff submission
• End April Baccalaureate Launch Events
  for centres
• End May Publication of Assessment
  Support materials on SQAs website
• Aug/Sept Setting up of Quality Support
  networks to support delivery and assessment

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Next steps

• Work on
• detail of quality assurance model for the Project
  Unit
• assessment support materials with exemplars
• operational and business systems
• preparation for launch events and implementation
  support for centres

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Any questions?

• What opportunities does the Scottish
  Baccalaureate in Languages present?
• What are the challenges you see/
• What solutions would you propose?

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Contact details

• Customer Contact Centre
  customer_at_sqa.org.uk
• 
  0845 279 1000
• Qualification Managers
• For Science
• Margot McKerrell margot.mckerrell_at_sqa.or
  g.uk
• 
  0845 213 5509
• For Languages
• Jim McDonald
  jim.mcdonald_at_sqa.org.uk
• 
  0845 213 5515

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