Scots Language Award – Year 1

Malcolm Wilson Published August 5, 2015

As the results were released for all National Courses yesterday, it seems appropriate to reflect on the activity that went on over the first year of the Scots Language Award.

The Award launched last June, with a well-attended and well-received event, led by the Development Manager, Pauline Rodger.

Over the last 12 months we’ve undertaken quite a lot of activity to support teachers who have taken it on in the first year. We’ve spoken at events held by the Association for Scottish Literary Studies, one of which was based entirely on the Award.

We’ve produced Unit Assessment Support Packs for both Units at all levels, which can be viewed on our secure site by following this link: https://secure.sqa.org.uk/secure/Awards/Awards Feedback is always welcomed!

In April we verified the first batch of candidates. Much like verification of CfE Units, if you’re delivering Scots Language Units there’s a chance you’ll be called on for verification. The process is supportive, and ensures that teachers aren’t asking too much, or too little of their candidates.

One outcome of the verification is that we were able to exemplify some candidate evidence in Understanding Standards packs. These are for the Understanding and Communicating Units at SCQF levels 4 and 5.

We’ve also delivered CPD to teachers in South Lanarkshire council. This was a combined meeting with Diane Anderson, a Scots Language Co-ordinator at Education Scotland. We’ll get the materials used onto this blog in the near future – look out for them!

It’s been a busy year, with 2015-16 already shaping up to have a lot of activity on the Scots Language front. It’s important to note however, that the Award isn’t externally assessed – and so isn’t tied to an exam diet. This means that the end of the year isn’t necessarily the end of students’ efforts. Similarly, the Award doesn’t have to be taught from the beginning of a school year; one of the flexibilities which make the Award so interesting.

Here’s to year 2!
Marilyn and Malcolm