National Standardised Assessments for Scotland: national report 2022 to 2023

Appendix 5: Quality assurance

In preparation for the presentation of the assessments in the 2022 to 2023 academic year, a number of quality assurance activities took place in relation to the replenishment items developed for inclusion within the assessments. The assessments and resulting data on learner outcomes, which is summarised within this report, are underpinned by thorough quality assurance processes that were completed prior to the 2022 to 2023 academic year. These processes are summarised below.

Scottish Government reviews

AlphaPlus used the outcomes of discussions that took place with Scottish Government and Education Scotland, at the start of the NSA project, to inform the number and nature of the replenishment items to be developed for potential inclusion in the 2022 to 2023 assessments.

Figure 40 shows the main activities undertaken in the development, review and customisation of items for the live assessments, and development and review of replenishment items for trialling in the 2022 to 2023 academic year.

Authors for SNSA items are qualified teachers and educational experts, either currently working in the Scottish context, or subject matter experts who have experience developing Scottish pedagogical and assessment materials.

MCNG items are written by GME practitioners and quality assured by a panel, chaired by Education Scotland. MCNG items now follow the same trialling process as SNSA items.