Education (Scotland) Act 2025
Part 1
Qualifications Scotland
Establishment
1
Qualifications Scotland
Functions
2
The function of awarding qualifications
3
The quality assurance function
4
The accreditation function
5
The advisory function
6
Working with, or recognition of, others
7
Duties when exercising functions
8
Consultation with Strategic Advisory Council
Strategic Advisory Council
9
Strategic Advisory Council
Expert Group on Qualifications Standards
10
Expert Group on Qualifications Standards
Charters
11
The learner charter
12
The teacher and practitioner charter
13
Reviewing and revising the charters
14
Other charters
Guidance
15
Guidance about assistance for people with educational support needs
Accountability of Qualifications Scotland
16
Corporate plan of Qualifications Scotland
17
Annual report of Qualifications Scotland
18
Annual quality assurance compliance report of Qualifications Scotland
19
Reports of advice to Qualifications Scotland from certain committees
20
Accounts and audit of Qualifications Scotland
21
Scottish Ministers’ power to direct Qualifications Scotland
22
Guidance by the Scottish Ministers to Qualifications Scotland
23
Provision of information by Qualifications Scotland
Accountability of the Accreditation Committee
24
Corporate plan of the Accreditation Committee
25
Annual report of the Accreditation Committee
26
Scottish Ministers’ power to direct the Accreditation Committee
Funding and powers
27
Financial assistance
28
Funding and use of resources
29
General powers
Supporting provisions
30
Publication of documents
Reviews
31
Review of arrangements for assuring quality of qualifications
32
Review of accreditation function
Part 2
His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education in Scotland
Establishment
33
His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education in Scotland
34
Deputy Chief Inspector of Education in Scotland
35
His Majesty’s Inspectors of Education in Scotland
36
Assistance with inspections
Functions
37
Purpose of inspection
38
The inspection function
39
Meaning of “relevant educational establishment” and “excepted establishment”
40
The voluntary arrangements function
41
The advisory function
42
Working with others
43
Duties when exercising functions
Advisory Council
44
Advisory Council
Accountability
45
Inspection plan
46
Reports on inspections
47
Annual report
48
Report on performance of the Scottish education system
49
Other reports
50
Protection from actions of defamation
Powers
51
General powers
Cooperation with inspections
52
Powers of entry and inspection
53
Duty to provide assistance
54
Offences
Enforcement following school-related inspections
55
Necessary improvements: referral to Scottish Ministers
56
Preliminary notice of enforcement action
57
Enforcement direction
Supporting provisions
58
Publication of documents
Part 3
General and miscellaneous
59
Transfer of staff, property etc. to Qualifications Scotland
60
Dissolution of the Scottish Qualifications Authority
61
Transitional provisions
62
Consequential modifications
63
Interpretation
64
Regulation-making powers
65
Ancillary provision
66
Commencement
67
Short title
Schedule 1
Qualifications Scotland
Part 1
Status
1
Exclusion of Crown status
Part 2
Membership
2
Number and appointment of members
3
Appointment as a member: criteria
4
Period and conditions of membership
5
Early termination of membership
6
Members’ remuneration and allowances
7
Co-opted members
Part 3
Staff
8
Chief executive, chief examiner, chief accreditation officer and other staff
9
Staff pensions
Part 4
Procedure
Chapter 1
Committees
10
Committees
11
The Learner Interest Committee
12
The Teacher and Practitioner Interest Committee
13
The Accreditation Committee
Chapter 2
Administration of Qualifications Scotland and its committees
14
Regulation of procedure
15
Authority to perform functions
16
Member consultation requirement
17
Validity of things done
Schedule 2
The Office of His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education in Scotland
Part 1
Status
1
Status
2
Independence
Part 2
Appointment and terms
3
Appointment
4
Period and conditions of office
Part 3
Staff
5
Staff
Part 4
Procedure
6
Authority to perform functions
7
(1) The Scottish Ministers may assign to an Inspector the...
8
Validity of things done
Schedule 3
Transfer of staff, property etc. to Qualifications Scotland
1
Transfer date
2
Transfer of staff
3
Transfer of property
4
Duty to secure vesting of foreign property
5
Appointment of initial board members
Schedule 4
Consequential modifications
Part 1
Qualifications Scotland
Chapter 1
Application of legislation relating to public bodies to Qualifications Scotland
1
Ethical Standards in Public Life etc. (Scotland) Act 2000
2
Scottish Public Services Ombudsman Act 2002
3
Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002
4
Public Appointments and Public Bodies etc. (Scotland) Act 2003
5
Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010
6
Public Records (Scotland) Act 2011
7
Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014
8
Gender Representation on Public Boards (Scotland) Act 2018
9
Islands (Scotland) Act 2018
Chapter 2
Other modifications relating to Qualifications Scotland
10
Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 1992
11
Education (Scotland) Act 1996
12
Scottish Qualifications Authority Act 2002
13
Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 2005
14
Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014
15
Coronavirus (Recovery and Reform) (Scotland) Act 2022
Part 2
The office of His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education in Scotland
Chapter 1
Application of legislation relating to office-holders to the Chief Inspector
16
Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002
17
Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007
18
Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010
19
Public Records (Scotland) Act 2011
20
Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014
Chapter 2
Other modifications relating to the Chief Inspector
21
Education (Scotland) Act 1980
22
Standards in Scotland’s Schools etc. Act 2000
23
Scottish Schools (Parental Involvement) Act 2006
24
Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010
25
Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010
26
Education (Scotland) Act 2016
27
Schools General (Scotland) Regulations 1975

Education (Scotland) Act 2025
2025 asp 11
An Act of the Scottish Parliament to provide for the establishment and functions of Qualifications Scotland; to provide for the establishment and functions of the office of His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education in Scotland; and for connected purposes.
The Bill for this Act of the Scottish Parliament was passed by the Parliament on 25th June 2025 and received Royal Assent on 6th August 2025