New exams body plans changes to the qualifications system

Qualifications Scotland, which has replaced the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA), said it wants to ensure exams are “absolutely fit for purpose” and better reflect the needs of learners and society.

According to the BBC, chief examiner Donna Stewart said the organisation is reviewing both the length of exams and whether some qualifications in subjects with “low uptake” should continue to be offered in the future. However, she stressed that Gaelic would not be affected by any potential changes.

The full review is not expected to be implemented until 2031, although Stewart noted that some exams could be shortened in the nearer term.

Concerns had previously been raised that Qualifications Scotland would be little more than a rebranding exercise, as many SQA staff remained in post after the transition. However, chief executive Nick Page rejected this view, saying the new board includes five practising teachers and represents a fundamental shift in governance.

“It may look similar from the outside, but we are fundamentally changing the system,” he said. “This is a new board, with only three or four members carried over from the previous one. We now have a new governance structure and new people – it is very different.”

Page described the full launch of Qualifications Scotland as a “momentous occasion”, adding that its aim is to develop a world-class qualifications system that allows people of all ages and backgrounds in Scotland to learn, have their achievements recognised and be employable.

Stewart said the review process is being carried out in collaboration with students, teachers, college lecturers, training providers and industry representatives. While some qualifications continue to see strong uptake, she said others that have existed for many years require re-evaluation.

Asked which qualifications might be withdrawn in the future, Stewart said decisions would be guided by the needs of learners and Scotland as a whole, rather than being imposed by the organisation itself.

She added that proposals are also being developed to reduce exam duration across a range of qualifications, noting that this could be achieved without compromising the integrity of the awards.

Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth said Qualifications Scotland would deliver real improvements for learners, teachers and Scotland’s education system. She added that pupils and students would have a stronger voice in shaping qualifications and assessment, with less reliance on high-stakes exams and greater recognition of achievement in all its forms.

“This is about building a system we can trust,” she said, adding that qualifications would be developed collaboratively to ensure they are modern, rigorous and fair for children, young people and adult learners alike.