What does Scotland's new Education Bill mean for the Scottish education system?

The Scottish Parliament recently passed the Education (Scotland) Bill. What does this mean for Scotland’s education system?

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The bill establishes two new bodies:

• ‘Qualifications Scotland’ which will replace the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) and hold responsibility for designing qualifications and assessments
• Office of His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, to which the inspection functions currently under the responsibility of Education Scotland will be transferred, and which will also deliver annual reports on the state of Scottish Education system

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Both new bodies will be operational by autumn.

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What are the motives behind these changes?

In the past few years, there have been controversies over the fairness of exam marking and grade awarding processing during the pandemic.  Replacing in the interests of independence from the Government curricular agency whose policies they are inspecting.

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How has the Bill been received?

The Bill has received a mixed response.  

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The general secretary of the Educational Institute of Scotland teaching union, Andrea Bradley, welcomed the commitment that Qualifications Scotland will ensure that ‘the knowledge and experience of pupils and teachers are central to decisions taken on qualifications and assessment’.

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On the other hand, others have criticised the Bill as a rebranding rather than meaningful reform.

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How should Teach the Future respond?

The redesign of the schools inspectorate offers a critical opportunity to increase emphasis on sustainability within the new inspection framework. We should call for young people to be invited to co-design the new inspection plan, and be included in the Chief Inspector’s Advisory Council.

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You can read the full bill as passed here.