Independent Review of Qualifications and Assessment - SG response: equality impact assessment

Scope of the Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA)

This EQIA follows on from an initial EQIA Framing Exercise which was undertaken prior to the final report of the IRQA.

Extent/Level of EQIA required: Full EQIA required

A wide range of stakeholders were involved in the development of the proposals presented in the final report of the IRQA. Full details of the methodology of the IRQA and a full list of stakeholders involved either through meetings with Professor Hayward or via the associated Collaborative Community Groups are available in the final report.

This draft EQIA draws upon:

• evidence gathered during the IRQA.
• evidence gathered post-publication.

Stakeholders with a particular focus on equalities issues and who provided vital input to this EQIA include:

• Anti Racism in Education Programme
• Centre for Excellence for Children's Care and Protection
• Child Poverty Action Group
• Children in Scotland
• Children's Commissioner Scotland
• Coalition for Racial Equality Scotland
• Education Scotland
• LGBT Youth Scotland
• Scottish Network for Able Pupils
• Scottish Youth Parliament
• SQA
• Education Scotland
• Who Cares? Scotland
• Zero Tolerance Scotland

Intersectionality

We recognise the importance of capturing intersectionality by which we mean: a recognition that people are shaped by simultaneous membership of multiple interconnected social categories^[1].

The interaction between multiple social categories occurs within a context of connected systems and structures of power (for example, laws, policies, governments). A recognition of inequality of power is key to intersectionality. Structural inequalities, reflected as relative disadvantage and privilege, are the outcome of interconnected social categories, power relations and contexts.

The write-up of this EQIA follows the standard template which asks for responses based on individual protected characteristics. Intersectional issues have been identified where data is known.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission in its report Is Scotland Fairer (2018)^[2] states, "there continues to be a lack of intersectional analysis in data sources. People have many different characteristics and the interactions of these characteristics on the experiences people have, and the outcomes that result from those experiences, must be better understood."

We will continue to seek intersectional data throughout the policy development process and update this EQIA accordingly. We will also ensure that a consideration of intersectionality is built into the policy development process.