Scottish Certificate of Education
Encyclopedia
The Scottish Certificate of Education (or SCE) was a Scottish
secondary education
certificate, used in schools from 1962 until the late 1990s. It replaced the older Junior Secondary Certificate (JSC) and Scottish Leaving Certificate (SLC), and was the Scottish equivalent of the General Certificate of Education
(or GCE) used in England
, Wales
and Northern Ireland
.
('O-Grade') and Higher Grade
('Higher'). During the second half of the 1980s, the Ordinary Grade award was replaced with the Standard Grade
, and the Higher Grade was revised. These changes placed increased emphasis on coursework
and the application of knowledge.
The now-obsolete Certificate of Sixth Year Studies
(a qualification taken by many in their final year after passing the subject at Higher Grade) was not a part of the Scottish Certificate of Education. However, both were awarded by the Scottish Examination Board
(and its successor, the Scottish Qualifications Authority
).
(SQC) which was first issued from January 2000 onwards. The SQC also incorporated the CSYS
(although this was in the final stages of being replaced with the Advanced Higher) and the Record of Education and Training (RET).
The Standard Grade and Higher Grade qualifications live on as part of the new organisational structure.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
secondary education
Secondary education
Secondary education is the stage of education following primary education. Secondary education includes the final stage of compulsory education and in many countries it is entirely compulsory. The next stage of education is usually college or university...
certificate, used in schools from 1962 until the late 1990s. It replaced the older Junior Secondary Certificate (JSC) and Scottish Leaving Certificate (SLC), and was the Scottish equivalent of the General Certificate of Education
General Certificate of Education
The General Certificate of Education or GCE is an academic qualification that examination boards in the United Kingdom and a few of the Commonwealth countries, notably Sri Lanka, confer to students. The GCE traditionally comprised two levels: the Ordinary Level and the Advanced Level...
(or GCE) used in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
and Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
.
Levels of Award
The SCE was intended to cater for the increased range of subjects available to pupils since the raising of the school leaving age from 14 to 15 in 1947. It initially included examinations and awards at both Ordinary GradeO-grade
The Ordinary Grade of the Scottish Certificate of Education is a now-discontinued qualification which was studied for as part of the Scottish secondary education system...
('O-Grade') and Higher Grade
Higher (Scottish)
In Scotland the Higher is one of the national school-leaving certificate exams and university entrance qualifications of the Scottish Qualifications Certificate offered by the Scottish Qualifications Authority. It superseded the old Higher Grade on the Scottish Certificate of Education...
('Higher'). During the second half of the 1980s, the Ordinary Grade award was replaced with the Standard Grade
Standard Grade
Standard Grades are Scotland's educational qualifications for students aged around 14 to 16 years, which are due to be fully replaced in 2014 when Scottish Qualifications Authority's Higher Still system becomes the main qualifications as part of the major shake up of Scotland's education system as...
, and the Higher Grade was revised. These changes placed increased emphasis on coursework
Coursework
Coursework is the name for work carried out by students at university or middle/high school that contributes towards their overall grade, but which is assessed separately from their final exams. Coursework can, for example, take the form of experimental work, or may involve research in the...
and the application of knowledge.
The now-obsolete Certificate of Sixth Year Studies
Certificate of Sixth Year Studies
Prior to the year 2000, the Certificate of Sixth Year Studies was the highest level of qualification available to pupils in the Scottish secondary education system....
(a qualification taken by many in their final year after passing the subject at Higher Grade) was not a part of the Scottish Certificate of Education. However, both were awarded by the Scottish Examination Board
Scottish Examination Board
The Scottish Examination Board was the academic examination board for schools in Scotland until 1997.It used to administer all of Scotland's academic qualifications, including Standard Grades and Highers....
(and its successor, the Scottish Qualifications Authority
Scottish Qualifications Authority
The Scottish Qualifications Authority is a non-departmental public body responsible for accreditation and awarding. It is partly funded by the Education and Lifelong Learning Directorate of the Scottish Government, employing 750 staff, based in Glasgow and Dalkeith...
).
Successors
Starting in 1994, the Scottish Certificate of Education was phased out; its replacement was the Scottish Qualifications CertificateScottish Qualifications Certificate
The Scottish Qualifications Certificate is the successor to the Scottish Certificate of Education and the Record of Education and Training in Scotland, and is the main educational qualification awarded to students in secondary, further, and vocational education. The SQC is awarded by the Scottish...
(SQC) which was first issued from January 2000 onwards. The SQC also incorporated the CSYS
Certificate of Sixth Year Studies
Prior to the year 2000, the Certificate of Sixth Year Studies was the highest level of qualification available to pupils in the Scottish secondary education system....
(although this was in the final stages of being replaced with the Advanced Higher) and the Record of Education and Training (RET).
The Standard Grade and Higher Grade qualifications live on as part of the new organisational structure.
See also
- Education in ScotlandEducation in ScotlandScotland has a long history of universal provision of public education, and the Scottish education system is distinctly different from the other countries of the United Kingdom...
- Scottish Qualifications AuthorityScottish Qualifications AuthorityThe Scottish Qualifications Authority is a non-departmental public body responsible for accreditation and awarding. It is partly funded by the Education and Lifelong Learning Directorate of the Scottish Government, employing 750 staff, based in Glasgow and Dalkeith...