Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Scottish Government submission of 24 June 2021
PE1875/A - Public inquiry into the Scottish Qualifications Authority
We commissioned a review in 2020 to help us better understand how the curriculum is being designed and implemented in school, and to identify areas for improvement.
This review was subsequently expanded from an initial review of the senior phase curriculum to a full review of Curriculum for Excellence (CfE), covering the broad general education, the senior phase and the articulation between the two.
This review was led by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) that published its findings: Scotland’s Curriculum for Excellence Into the Future, on 21 June 2021.
On 21 June the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, Shirley-Anne Somerville, announced that all 12 of the review’s recommendations will be accepted in full, including recommendations on curriculum, assessment and qualifications which will see the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) replaced and Education Scotland substantially reformed - an initial Scottish Government response to these recommendations is available here: Response to the independent review of the Curriculum for Excellence by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Professor Ken Muir CBE has been appointed as an independent advisor to lead this work. Professor Muir will be supported by a diverse advisory panel, which will be drawn from academia, practitioners, organisational change experts and others they, and together they will lead wide engagement that ensures that these changes are designed and implemented in a way that maximizes support of excellence and equity for our children and young people.
The Cabinet Secretary also announced the creation of a young person’s council to shadow the Scottish Education Council and we will ensure the voices of young people are heard during the process led by Professor Muir. We are also committed to working closely with staff directly impacted by any changes (within Education Scotland and SQA) and will ensure they have the opportunity to give their views.
The OECD also identified a need for the better articulation of assessment methods through the Broad General Education and into the Senior Phase. The Scottish Governments awaits the outcomes of the OECDs comparative analysis which is due to publish by the end of August. This will allow us to have initial conversations as to the future of our senior phase qualifications and awards.