standardgrade

Standard Grade was a Scottish secondary school qualification that formed part of Scotland’s national qualifications framework. It was used in schools across Scotland from the 1980s until it was gradually phased out in the early 2010s. The Standard Grade was administered by the body then known as the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) and, in many schools, ran alongside other levels of assessment for different stages of secondary education.

The qualification covered a broad range of subjects, including core areas such as English, mathematics and science, as well as social subjects, modern languages, technologies, and arts. Students typically completed several Standard Grade courses across different subjects during their secondary years. Assessments combined coursework, practical work where relevant, and final examinations, with achievement recorded on a standard scale that indicated level of attainment.

Transition and replacement: Beginning in the 2010s, Scotland reorganized its qualifications under the National Qualifications framework. Standard Grades were progressively replaced by National 4 and National 5 qualifications, along with the Higher and Advanced Higher levels. The transition involved changes to course structures, assessment methods, and grading systems, and varied by subject and school. The aim was to create a more uniform framework with clearer progression pathways from early secondary education to higher-level study or employment.

Legacy: The Standard Grade is remembered as a key stage in Scotland’s pre-National Qualifications era, providing broad-based secondary education and a foundation for progression to higher qualifications and further study.