SQA’s New Approach to Quality AssuranceSQA’s New Approach to Quality Assurance

Matthew McCullagh

Quality Manager

Why Have a New Approach?Why Have a New Approach?

Review of SQA Quality Framework (2006)

Continue to protect SQA’s reputation and credibility of our qualifications

Feedback from Centres

What is our goal?What is our goal?

SQA should have a transparent intelligence-led, risk based model for quality assurance of centres delivering our qualifications

Key Changes to our existing ApproachKey Changes to our existing Approach

Introduced from August 2012 onwardsIntroduced from August 2012 onwards Supported by on-line guidance for centresSupported by on-line guidance for centres Refreshed Quality Assurance CriteriaRefreshed Quality Assurance Criteria Introduction of Risk RatingIntroduction of Risk Rating Introduction of SanctionsIntroduction of Sanctions Introduction of Action PlansIntroduction of Action Plans Refreshed Quality Assurance ReportsRefreshed Quality Assurance Reports

Introduced from August 2012 Introduced from August 2012 onwardsonwardsIntroduced from August 2012 Introduced from August 2012 onwardsonwards

Initial Launch to centres in September 2011 Ongoing Support from Mary Gao Final Launch to centres in September 2012 All Quality Assurance activity follows the New

Approach from then on

Supported by on-line guidance for Supported by on-line guidance for centrescentresSupported by on-line guidance for Supported by on-line guidance for centrescentres

http://cn.sqa.org.uk/Quality_Assurance

Refreshed Quality Assurance Refreshed Quality Assurance CriteriaCriteriaRefreshed Quality Assurance Refreshed Quality Assurance CriteriaCriteria Each criterion clearly describes what a centre must

do to demonstrate compliance. They are:

– Organised into 5 Categories• Management of a Centre

• Resources

• Candidate Supoort

• Assessment and Verification

• Records/Data Management

Refreshed Quality Assurance Refreshed Quality Assurance CriteriaCriteriaRefreshed Quality Assurance Refreshed Quality Assurance CriteriaCriteria

– Supported by examples of evidence– Graded by their importance– Linked to 4 different Quality Assurance

Processes

Introduction of Risk RatingIntroduction of Risk RatingIntroduction of Risk RatingIntroduction of Risk Rating

EV Rationale Risk Systems Rationale

Severe threat to integrity of assessment decisions Severe Systemic high risk to effective support of SQA candidates

Significant threat to integrity of assessment decisions in short-term. Significant Localised and/or systematic high risk to effective support of SQA candidates in the short term

Moderate threat to integrity of assessment decisions in short-term and/or high threat to integrity of assessment decision in long-term.

Moderate Significant threat to effective support of SQA candidates in short-term and/or high threat to effective support of SQA candidates in long-term

Low threat to integrity of assessment decisions in short-term and/or medium threat to integrity of assessment decisions.

Low Localised low risk to effective support of SQA candidates in the short term or medium risk in the long term

No identified threat to the integrity of assessment decisions. Very Low No identified risk to effective support of SQA candidates

Introduction of SanctionsIntroduction of SanctionsIntroduction of SanctionsIntroduction of Sanctions

EV Sanction Risk Systems Sanction

Withdrawal of specific qualification approval:by verification groupby qualification

Severe Withdrawal of centre approval

Suspension of specific qualification approval:by verification groupby qualification

Significant Withdrawal of devolved statusWithdrawal of all existing specific qualification approval

Suspension of specific qualification certification:by verification group by qualification Suspension of approval application by verification groupSuspension of direct certification claim status:by verification group by qualification

Moderate Suspension of all existing qualification approvalSuspension of devolved statusSuspension of centre certificationSuspension of certification for all qualifications with internally assessed componentsSuspension of certification for all qualificationswith externally assessed componentsSuspension of qualification approval application - whole centre

Entry in Action Plan Low Entry in Action Plan

Very Low

Refreshed Quality Assurance ReportsRefreshed Quality Assurance ReportsSummary ReportSummary ReportRefreshed Quality Assurance ReportsRefreshed Quality Assurance ReportsSummary ReportSummary Report

Introduction of Action PlansIntroduction of Action PlansIntroduction of Action PlansIntroduction of Action Plans

Action Plans will be generated during a visit Action Plans will be generated during a visit where one or more non-compliances are where one or more non-compliances are identifiedidentified

Action points will be SMARTAction points will be SMART– SSpecificpecific– MMeasurableeasurable– AAgreedgreed– RRealisticealistic– TTime-boundime-bound

Introduction of Action PlansIntroduction of Action PlansIntroduction of Action PlansIntroduction of Action Plans

All action points are discussed and agreed with All action points are discussed and agreed with centre management during the visitcentre management during the visit

All action points within an action plan are All action points within an action plan are MANDATORYMANDATORY

Failure to meet action points may result in an Failure to meet action points may result in an increased risk rating and further sanctionsincreased risk rating and further sanctions

Refreshed Quality Assurance Reports Refreshed Quality Assurance Reports Action PlanAction PlanRefreshed Quality Assurance Reports Refreshed Quality Assurance Reports Action PlanAction Plan

SummarySummary

Introduced from August 2012 onwardsIntroduced from August 2012 onwards Supported by on-line guidance for centresSupported by on-line guidance for centres Refreshed Quality Assurance CriteriaRefreshed Quality Assurance Criteria Introduction of Risk RatingIntroduction of Risk Rating Introduction of SanctionsIntroduction of Sanctions Introduction of Action PlansIntroduction of Action Plans Refreshed Quality Assurance ReportsRefreshed Quality Assurance Reports

QuestionsQuestions