Replacement of SQA

The Scottish Government has announced that, as part of wider education reform, SQA is to be replaced by a new qualifications body in 2025.

This new organisation will take on SQA’s current awarding functions, including:

  • responsibility for the design and delivery of all qualifications
  • the running of exams and the awarding of certificates
  • SQA’s commercial activities and international work.

The new body will also take on SQA’s accreditation and regulation functions.

Education Reform Programme

The Scottish Government’s Education Reform Programme is made up of four strands of work:

  • a national discussion on the future vision for education
  • the independent Hayward Review of qualifications and assessments
  • new national education bodies, replacing SQA and Education Scotland:
    • establishment of a new qualifications body
    • creation of an independent inspectorate
    • creation of a new national education agency
  • a review of post-school education and training

This Reform Programme is overseen by the Scottish Government-led Strategic Programme Board, which includes representation from a range of external stakeholders. The work of the Board will also be informed by a Key Stakeholder Advisory Group, chaired by the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills.

The work associated with the creation of the new national education bodies is overseen by Delivery Boards. The Delivery Boards are accountable to the Scottish Government’s Education Reform Strategic Programme Board. The tasks assigned to the Delivery Boards, including what is expected to be delivered, are set out by the Scottish Government.

New Qualifications Body Delivery Board

The New Qualifications Body Delivery Board includes a wide-ranging external membership from the college, school, local authority and training sectors in Scotland as well as from the education sector in the rest of the UK.

In setting out how the new education bodies will be designed and delivered, the Cabinet Secretary has been very clear on the need to use a mix of knowledge, expertise, views and ideas from across the education and training sectors as well as from staff and trade union representatives within the current bodies.

The Delivery Board will undertake an extensive programme of engagement with learners, teachers and lecturers, plus a wide range of other stakeholders and users, to ensure they shape the new qualifications body.

The members of the New Qualifications Body Delivery Board are:

  • Stuart McKenna, Chief Executive of the Scottish Training Federation
  • Lyndsay McRoberts, Director of Education, South Ayrshire Council
  • Professor Ken Thomson, Principal of Forth Valley College
  • Isabel Nisbet, external non-executive, member of independent panel reviewing education in Northern Ireland
  • Julie MacDonald, Head Teacher of Nairn Academy and representative of School Leaders Scotland
  • Unison Trade Union Representative
  • Unite Trade Union Representative
  • Chris Graham, Scottish Government
  • Mike Baxter, Chair of the Board, Director of Finance and Corporate Services at SQA
  • Liz McGrath, Programme Director, SQA
  • Dawnne Mahmoud, Director of People, SQA
  • John Booth, Director of Communications, SQA
  • Martin Campbell, Director of Business Systems, SQA
  • George Brown, Head of SQA Accreditation

Further information

The Scottish Government has announced that as part of wider education reform, SQA is to be replaced by a new qualifications body.

This new organisation will take on SQA’s current awarding functions, including responsibility for the design and delivery of all qualifications, the running of exams and the awarding of certificates. SQA’s commercial activities and international work will also be included in the remit of this new organisation.

The new organisation will also take on SQA's current accreditation and regulation functions.

SQA’s priority remains ensuring the safe delivery of qualifications, ensuring that learners get the results they have worked hard for, enabling them to progress to further study or employment.

The indicative timetable for the creation of the new qualifications body is after the completion of exams in 2025 though further detailed planning is required.

Until the new body is in existence, SQA is committed to continued delivery of high-quality, credible qualifications to our many valued customers.

The indicative timetable for the creation of the new qualifications body is after the completion of exams in 2025 though further detailed planning is required.

 

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