Information related to Scottish Parliaments Education, Children and Young People Committee Higher History discussion

Date published: 02/05/2025

I’m looking for information related to recent discussions and correspondence (e-mails, letters, meeting notes or minutes, briefing papers, memos, etc) about attendance at the Scottish Parliament’s Education, Children and Young People Committee to give evidence on the topic of Higher History SQA exams. I am looking for:

All correspondence between Jenny Gilruth MSP (Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills) and Fiona Robertson (Chief Executive of the SQA) between [1 September 2024 – present].
All correspondence involving Jenny Gilruth MSP, Fiona Robertson, or other officials in the Scottish Government or SQA about the scheduling or potential refusal of attendance at an additional meeting of the Education, Children and Young People Committee on this subject.

For context, I understand that Fiona Robertson attended a committee session on 25 September 2024 to answer questions on Higher History exams. However, Jenny Gilruth MSP has not yet attended a session to provide evidence on this issue. This request seeks to understand any discussions or decisions about attendance at committee sessions relating to this matter.

Please see requested information attached. Names and identifying information of SQA staff below Head of Service level and non-SQA staff have been removed under section 38 (1)(b) as this is considered personal information.

Please note that while issues relating to Higher History were discussed in the Education Committee session on the 25th of September 2024, they were not listed on the agenda. As such, there was no pre-communication between SQA and officials in preparation.

Collated emails and list of attachments (146 KB)

Letter re Higher History Review (109 KB)