Putting Learners at the Centre: Towards a Future Vision for Scottish Education

Appendix H: System map

The System Map diagram sets out the status, governance and current roles of the Scottish Government, SQA, Education Scotland and SCQF. It also describes how these bodies would change, should the recommendations in this report be accepted, namely to create three bodies referred to, for the purposes of this report, as Qualifications Scotland, the National Agency for Scottish Education and HM Inspectors of Education.

Scottish Government

Status

• Devolved Government for Scotland.

Governance

• Civil Servants accountable to Ministers.
• Ministers accountable to Scottish Parliament.

Roles

• Overarching education policy.
• Transition programme team to oversee the changes and reform.
• Elements of Scottish Government's Curriculum, Qualifications and Gaelic Division – recommendation to transfer to the National Agency for Scottish Education.
• Insight professional advisors and the Insight online tool – recommendation to transfer to the National Agency for Scottish Education.
• Registrar of Independent Schools – recommendation to transfer in from Education Scotland.

Qualifications Scotland

Status

• Executive Non-Departmental Public Body.

Governance

• A board of management which is reflective of and represents the wide range of stakeholders with whom it engages, and is approved by Scottish Ministers and Advisory Council.

Roles

• Chief Examining Officer.
• Award qualifications.
• Deliver qualifications.
• Operate and certificate examinations.
• Provide services and deliver contract services.
• Regulate and accredit qualifications – recommendation to be undertaken by the National Agency for Scottish Education.
• Regulate, approve and quality assure awarding bodies – recommendation to be undertaken by the National Agency for Scottish Education.

National Agency for Scottish Education

Status

• Scottish Government executive agency.

Governance

• An Advisory Board which is reflective of and represents the wide range of stakeholders with whom it engages.
• Audit and Risk Committee.

Roles

• Chief Executive.

• Bespoke support and professional learning at both regional and local levels, working in partnership with local authorities.
• Advise the Scottish Government on: curriculum, learning and teaching, assessment policy, professional learning and leadership.
• Create and sustain a forum for ongoing and proactive discussion.
• Elements of Scottish Government's Curriculum, Qualifications and Gaelic Division – recommendation to transfer from Scottish Government.
• Insight professional advisors and the Insight online tool – recommendation to transfer from Scottish Government.
• SCQF Partnership – recommendation to transfer all functions from the SCQF Partnership organisation.
• CLD Standards Council.
• Regulate and accredit qualifications – recommendation to transfer from SQA.
• Regulate, approve and quality assure awarding bodies – recommendation to transfer from SQA.
• Registrar of Independent Schools – recommendation to transfer to the Scottish Government.
• Inspections/Scrutiny – recommendation to transfer to a new HM Inspectorate of Education.

SCQF Partnership

Status

• Scottish Registered Charity.

Governance

• Board of Directors.

Roles

• Approve and quality assure Credit Rating Bodies.
• Provide impartial unbiased advice and support on credit rating.
• Promote and raise awareness of the benefits of the SCQF across all sectors both nationally and internationally – recommendation to transfer SCQF Partnership functions to the National Agency for Scottish Education.

HM Inspectorate of Education

Status

• Non-Ministerial Office or National Body.

Governance

• HMIE Board.

Roles

Independent assurance to the people of Scotland on the performance of the Scottish education system.

Perform evaluations of establishments and systems.

Provide support to establishments and systems to aid improvement – recommendation to transfer from Education Scotland.