Key Audience Research 2024/25

Technical summary: Stakeholder Research 2024-25

Date: November 2025

Background

We carry out two pieces of research on an annual basis, using a wave-based approach. In the Key Audience Research we can track what learners and educators in schools, colleges and training providers think about SQA, how well we communicate and engage, and what they think about our qualifications. This allows SQA to understand how well it is meeting the needs of key stakeholders. In the Centre Survey, respondents are largely heads of centres and SQA co-ordinators and the focus is on SQA's performance and customer perceptions.

Research Questions

Whether learners and educators are more or less positive about SQA than they were a year ago.
What these groups think about SQA qualifications, and whether their views have changed.
How effectively learners and educators believe that SQA communicates and engages with them, and whether those views have changed.
How effectively does SQA meet the needs of our centres?

Methodology

For the Key Audience Research, we carried out surveys with learners and educators in schools, colleges and training providers in November and December 2024. We split educators into two groups – those who teach SQA qualifications, and those working as managers. We also surveyed employers, and the parents/carers of S4-S6 children. Almost 2500 people took part in the research. The surveys were carried out using a range of methods including face to face and telephone interviews and online questionnaires.

For the Centre Survey, we carried out surveys with centre representatives, covering around 580 Scottish schools, colleges and training providers, UK and international centres between January and March 2025.

Key Findings

Both classroom teachers and people working in management were less positive about SQA than a year ago.
Respondents were largely positive about SQA qualifications, including how trusted they were, whether they were appropriately challenging and how much they prepared learners for further study
College respondents had very similar views compared to last year
Respondents from training providers were less positive than last year, but the results for this group were still strong when compared to other stakeholders.
SQA’s centres had similar views on the organisation's performance to last year

Implications

The research is important in that it shows us what key stakeholder groups think of SQA as we prepare to become Qualifications Scotland. It outlines where we need to improve as an organisation, and in future will measure progress in making those changes.

Next Steps

What will change because of the research?

Qualifications Scotland starts work on 2 December, with a promise to put learners and educators at the heart of decision-making.

Reports