UK order laid to support new Scottish education reforms
The order, laid before both houses of parliament yesterday (29 October), makes provision linked to the establishment of Qualifications Scotland – the new body replacing the SQA
Register to get 1 free article
Reveal the article below by registering for our email newsletter.
Want unlimited access? View Plans
Already have an account? Sign in
The secretary of state for Scotland, Douglas Alexander, has laid an order before parliament to update UK legislation following the creation of new education bodies under the Education (Scotland) Act 2025.
The Education (Scotland) Act 2025 (Consequential Provisions and Modifications) Order 2025 makes amendments under section 104 of the Scotland Act 1998, allowing the UK government to adjust laws outside the Scottish parliament’s competence as a result of devolved legislation.
The order, laid before both houses of parliament yesterday (29 October), makes provision linked to the establishment of Qualifications Scotland – the new body replacing the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) – and his majesty’s chief inspector of education in Scotland.
According to Welsh education secretary Lynne Neagle, the order ensures legal consistency across the UK. She said the Welsh government had “worked closely with the UK government, the Scottish government and the Northern Ireland executive” on its development.
The order will allow certain functions of Qualifications Scotland to operate outside Scotland, while repealing connected functions of the SQA; update primary and secondary legislation across the UK to replace references to the SQA with Qualifications Scotland; and confirm that the chief inspector is a non-ministerial officeholder within the Scottish administration.
The legislation will also amend Welsh statutory instruments, including Welsh language versions, to ensure consistency with the new Scottish framework.
The Education (Scotland) Act 2025 establishes Qualifications Scotland as the national body for developing, accrediting and awarding qualifications. It also creates a new independent education inspectorate under his majesty’s chief inspector of education.
The reforms follow recommendations from the 2021 OECD review of Scottish education, which called for a clearer separation between assessment, curriculum and inspection functions. The changes aim to improve transparency and accountability in how qualifications and school standards are managed.
