Languages
Kathleen McCormick, Qualification Development Manager
Scottish Qualifications Authority
Languages Overview
• English
• Gàidhlig
• ESOL
• Latin
• Literacy
• Media
• Modern Languages*
Modern Languages covers Cantonese, French, Gaelic (Learners), German,
Italian, Mandarin (Traditional and Simplified) and Spanish at SCQF levels
3-7 and Urdu at SCQF levels 3-6
• Modern Languages for Life and Work Awards
SCQF
English
Media
Literacy
7 (Advanced
Higher)

-
-
6 (Higher)


-
5 (National 5)



4 (National 4)



3 (National 3)



English
Course
National 3
National 4
National 5
English
Understanding
Language
Analysis and
Evaluation
Analysis and
Evaluation
Producing
Language
Creation and
Production
Creation and
Production
Literacy
Literacy
Added Value:
Assignment
Course
Assessment
Media
Course
National 3
National 4
National 5
Media
Analysing media
content
Analysing media
content
Analysing media
content
Creating media
content
Creating media
content
Creating media
content
Added Value:
Assignment
Course
Assessment
Key Points
• Builds on principles and practices guidance and relevant
level 4 experiences and outcomes from languages
curriculum area
• Follows the design principles agreed by CfE Management
Board and SQA’s Qualification Committee
• Incorporates the best features of Standard Grade and
Intermediates
• Focuses more on skills development and crediting positive
achievement
• Mainly hierarchical in structure
Engagement and feedback
• Local Authorities, Further and Higher Education
• Subject specialists, professional associations, industry
• Learner engagement
• CARG/QDT/SWGs
• CfE Liaison Team
• Have your say
What’s different? English
• English Units are skills focused
• Outcomes are broad-based leaving flexibility for
combining assessment eg listening and talking
• Wide range of texts and contexts - relevancy to
learners
• Literature, language and media
• Literacy Units at National 3 and National 4
• Course assessment – reading for analysis and
evaluation; critical essay and Scottish texts
What’s different? Media
• Media Units are skills focused
• Outcomes are broad-based leaving flexibility for
combining assessment eg analysing and creating
• Wide range of media content and contexts relevancy to learners
• Key aspects of media literacy
• Assignment at National 4 and National 5 –
(analysing and) creating media content
Literacy
• Free-standing Units at 3, 4 and 5
• Unit in National 3 and National 4 English
Key messages
• Progression
• Hierarchical structure
• Added Value - assignments at National 4;
National 5 and Higher Course Assessment
• Broad contexts and texts
• Assessment evidence