FOI25/26 020 Policy of Disciplinary Procedures and Offenders

Date published: 12/06/2025

FOI reference: 25/26 020

Date received: 14/05/2025

Date responded: 12/06/2025

Information requested

I request a copy of the following internal SQA policy :

SQA policy on disciplinary procedures (including each stage until dismissal and appeal)
SQA policy on dealing with Offenders/ ex offenders

I would also like the following questions answered:

Does SQA have an employees currently within the business that have any offences that are unspent ?
Does SQA have an employees currently within the business that have any offences that are spent ?
Does SQA recognise and indeed enforce the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 ?

Response

The Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA) is designed to give the public access to information held by public authorities. This response only addresses the questions that we could consider under FOISA.

You requested your own personal information, and this is being considered by our Data Protection Team who will contact you separately.

We are unable to respond to questions 4-17 as this is not information that can be disclosed under FOISA.

SQA policy on disciplinary procedures (including each stage until dismissal and appeal)

Please find attached our Disciplinary Policy. This policy only applies to SQA employees, not agency staff.

SQA policy on dealing with Offenders/ ex offenders

We do not have a specific policy on dealing with offenders/ex-offenders. However, we have provided relevant extracts from the Code of Conduct and the Child and Adult Protection Policy. These policies only apply to SQA employees, not agency staff.

1. Does SQA have an employees currently within the business that have any offences that are unspent ?

When a public authority does not hold information, under section 17 they should inform the requester of this. SQA does not hold any information on employees that have offences that are spent.

2. Does SQA have an employees currently within the business that have any offences that are spent ?

When a public authority does not hold information, under section 17 they should inform the requester of this. SQA does not hold any information on employees that have offences that are spent.

3. Does SQA recognise and indeed enforce the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 ?

SQA does recognise and enforce the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Please refer to the Extract of the Code of Conduct.