As a Non-Departmental Public Body, SQA operates at arm’s length to ministers and is responsible for its own operational decisions, including appeals processes.The approach to National Qualification appeals in 2024 is the same as last year and is the same approach that, discounting the pandemic years, has been in place since 2014 in Scotland. It is comparable with other appeals services in the rest of the UK and internationally – but with free and direct access for learners.SQA’s decision to revert to an enhanced version of the established appeals approach in 2023 was informed by an extensive evaluation of the 2022 approach, and engagement with the National Qualifications Group, of which Scottish Government was part, as well as a wide range of stakeholders - including teachers, parents and young people.