SQA to be scrapped as MSPs vote through education reforms

A new qualifications body and independent inspectorate are to be established after a late-night vote.

The Education (Scotland) Bill has passed after two days of debate on the cusp of summer recess.

Education secretary Jenny Gilruth said its measures will "drive improvement". However, Labour's Pam Duncan-Glancy called the change a "superficial rebrand".

The Glasgow MSP said the SNP government's handling of key issues had "left trust in our education system in tatters".

Under the changes, new body Qualifications Scotland will replace the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA), and a new inspector of education will be created. 

Shirley-Anne Somerville announced plans for the reform four years ago when she was education secretary.

The move followed an OECD report on the Curriculum for Excellence which found that the qualifications regime was a "barrier" to achieving the aims of the teaching system at secondary level. 

It also follows a row over grading by the SQA during Covid, when John Swinney was education secretary.

Gilruth, a former teacher, said: "The successful passage of this legislation shows this government is serious about implementing the changes needed to drive improvement across Scotland’s education and skills system.

"The creation of a new national qualifications body is about building the right conditions for reform to flourish; the new body will ensure that knowledge and experience of pupils and teachers are at the heart of our national qualifications offering. The new inspectorate body will also have greater independence and the power to set the frequency and focus of inspections, moving this function away from ministers, to His Majesty’s Chief Inspector."

MSPs backed the bill by 69 votes to 47.

However, Conservative Miles Briggs said the changes proposed "fall way short of what is required to ensure the organisation can operate effectively and is properly accountable".