Examination Centres and Assessors

Examination Centres & Assessors

All PDQB examinations (assessments) must be arranged through one of the four official PDQB Examination Centres and the issue of SQA or PDQB Certificates to successful candidates can be arranged only by the Examination Centres. Candidates must be registered with one of the PDQB Centres before an examination can be arranged. The relevant Candidate Registration Form can be obtained from one of the PDQB Centres or downloaded for submission to the Centre from the attached link.

It is also the responsibility of the Examination Centre to appoint Assessors from the PDQB-approved list to conduct PDQB examinations. Applicants cannot arrange an examination direct with an Assessor.

The four PDQB-approved Examination Centres are:

The National Piping Centre The National Piping Centre Campus

30-34 McPhater Street    6-24 Otago Street
Glasgow, G4 0HW Glasgow, G12 8JH
SCOTLAND    Scotland
Tel: 0141 353 0220    Tel: 0141 334 3587
Email: reception@thepipingcentre.co.uk
Website: http://www.thepipingcentre.co.uk

The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association

45 Washington Street
Glasgow
G3 8AZ
SCOTLAND
Tel: 0141 221 5414
Email: pdqb@rspba.org
Website: http://www.rspba.org

The Army School of Bagpipe Music and Highland Drumming
Inchdrewer House
299 Colinton Road
Edinburgh
EH13 0LA
SCOTLAND
Tel: 0131 310 5561

Tri-Service Cadet Force Pipes & Drums Centre
Grant House Building 2
Redford Cavalry Barracks
Colinton Road
Edinburgh
EH13 0PP
SCOTLAND
Tel: 0131 441 1705
Mob: 07947361741
email: piping_drumming@armycadets.com
Website: https://armycadets.com/become-a-cadet/what-youll-do/piping-and-drumming/

Note: The Piobaireachd Society does not have the infrastructure to sustain its own Examination Centre and is content for its candidates to be examined through any of the official Examination Centres.

Applicants can apply to take PDQB examinations directly if they feel that they have the relevant knowledge, understanding and practical ability. Alternatively they can apply to undertake training programmes run by the partner organisations. Guidance will be provided by the Examination Centres.

Assessments for all PDQB Certificates involve both Theory and Performance (practical) examinations. With the exception of the Performer’s Certificate, candidates must obtain a pass in both the Theory and Performance sections before the full qualification can be awarded (although in the case of the SQA National Progression Awards and Professional Development Awards, the Theory and Performance Units can be certificated separately). Full details are available from the Examination Centres.

Under no circumstances can PDQB Tutors or Teachers, who are also approved PDQB Assessors, conduct assessments for candidates they have taught.

Both the Army School of Bagpipe Music and Highland Drumming and the Tri-Service Cadet Centre are delivery and assessment centres for the MOD and Tri-Service Cadet community. Assessors for both centres will only assess for their parent organisations unless assistance has been requested from the other partner organisations.

Possible Additional SQA Centres

It may be possible for other educational organisations to apply to the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) for approval to deliver the National Progression Awards in Scottish Bagpipes and/or Scottish Pipe Band Drumming, and the Professional Development Awards in Scottish Bagpipes. Any organisation interested in applying to SQA for approval to become a new Centre for these qualifications will first require to obtain a Letter of Support from the PDQB, and will also require to meet the following criteria:

Demonstrate knowledge of the Piping and Drumming Qualifications Board (PDQB) qualifications structure and syllabi.
Provide details of the planned teaching/instruction arrangements; number of Assessors and Internal Verifiers to be used; and the qualifications and experience of these Assessors and Internal Verifiers.
Confirm that only approved PDQB Assessors and Internal Verifiers with knowledge and experience of PDQB qualifications will be used.
The relevant application form to PDQB for the required Letter of Support can be downloaded by clicking here.

Assessors

PDQB-approved Assessors are currently based in the following countries:

United Kingdom
Australia
Canada
Ireland
New Zealand
Northern Ireland
Oman
United States of America
Germany

It is possible to arrange PDQB examinations virtually anywhere in the world but the initial approach must be made to one of the four official PDQB Examination Centres listed above. The PDQB may from time to time consider the appointment of additional approved Assessors should the need arise.

PDQB Assessor Criteria

All Assessors will be appointed by the PDQB and only approved PDQB Assessors may
conduct PDQB examinations. The minimum qualifications and experience requirements
for applicants for approval as a PDQB Assessor are:

National Progression Awards and Professional Development Awards in Scottish Bagpipes (SCQF Levels 2 – 8):
SCQF Level 8 (Scottish Bagpipe) qualification is required.

National Progression Awards and Profesional Development Awards in Scottish Bagpipes (SCQF Levels 2 – 6):
SCQF Level 6 (Scottish Bagpipe) qualification is required.

National Progression Awards Scottish Pipe Band Drumming (SCQF Levels 2 – 6):
SCQF Level 6 (Pipe Band Drumming) qualification is required.

PDQB Bass/Tenor (Levels 2 – 6):

PDQB Bass/Tenor Level 6 qualification is required.

Applicants must also have a recognised track record in teaching Piping or Pipe Band Drumming.

Application Process:

All applicants must be sponsored by one of the PDQB partner organisations (PDQB/SQA Delivery Centre)
Applicants must complete the PDQB Assessor Application Form and submit through the sponsor PDQB organisation to the PDQB Secretary. Download the Assessor Application form here (Assessor Application form)

PDQB Assessor Responsibility:

Conducting assessments as directed by the sponsor PDQB/SQA Centre
Organising candidate briefings
Observing and recording candidates against assessment criteria
Questioning and recording candidates against assessment criteria
Authenticating and judging evidence as appropriate
Marking assessment papers and deciding assessment results

For further information contact the PDQB Secretary by using the form on the Contact page or speak with one of the centres directly.