The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) has come out in support of the idea of a joint new curriculum, assessment and qualifications body.

In its submission to the Muir review - which will lead to the replacement of the SQA and reform of curriculum and inspection body Education Scotland - the SQA says: “Consideration of bringing curriculum, assessment and qualifications together under one organisation was a recommendation of the [Organisation for Economic Development and Cooperation, or OECD] report and formed the basis for ministers announcing the replacement of SQA. It is important that this recommendation is taken forward.

“There is a logic to bringing together the functions of curriculum, assessment and qualifications body into one body, covering the 3-18 curriculum and beyond for both national and vocational qualifications.

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The threat of the new Omicron Covid variant has prompted concerns about the preparedness of the SQA and Scotland’s exams system in 2021-22. The SQA was heavily criticised in the previous two years when national exams were cancelled and the fallout led to June’s announcement that the SQA would be replaced.

The replacement of the SQA exams body

The SQA says in its submission a single curriculum and assessment body would “enable a clear and coherent approach to national policy, planning and delivery and review of the curriculum, learning and teaching practice and assessment across the education and skills system 3-18”.

The body also says that a wider range of vocational qualifications should be “available in every school” and that in the future there needs to be “a better balance” between teacher assessment and external assessment.

However, it warns that this must be “supported by the use of digital technology and more teacher non-contact time”, given the workload concerns raised by teachers last year when they were responsible for grading students, as well as in 2014-16, before “unit assessments” were removed from National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher.

It says that “adequate resourcing is a vital element” if the criticism levelled by the OECD in its June report that there is “misalignment between CfE’s aspirations and the qualification system” is to be addressed.

The SQA submission states: “We believe that practitioners need sufficient support and resources to provide a rounded learning experience. If more teacher assessment is used, then it is essential to increase the non-contact time for teachers to accommodate this and give them a manageable workload.

“The new curriculum, assessment and qualifications body will have a key role to play here, working with the education system to build capacity to ensure smooth implementation.”

The SQA says that policy and funding should “cover new technology [and] a push to online learning and assessments”, which could make assessment more targeted and reduce bureaucracy and costs, as well as make assessment processes more efficient and transparent. However, it also stresses this would require “significant investment”.

Fiona Robertson, SQA chief executive, said: “Our response to Professor Muir’s consultation is forward-looking, setting out the collective vision of SQA staff.

“It identifies opportunities for the whole education and training system in Scotland and sets out how, with the right investment, expertise and resources, these can be realised.

“We believe that a new organisation, maximising the existing wealth of expertise and experience of staff in SQA, could provide the catalyst to improve how education and training can meet the needs of learners, labour markets, and the economy.”

In November, it emerged that SQA staff might go on strike before the agency is replaced, with possible disruption to 2022 exams.