242.Paragraph 10 replaces reference to the Scottish Qualifications Authority in the Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 1992 with reference to Qualifications Scotland. This will have the effect of bringing qualifications awarded by Qualifications Scotland within the definition of “further education” in section 1 of that Act, and including any qualification known as the Qualifications Scotland national certificate in the list of courses which set the standard above which education is treated as “higher education”.
243.Paragraph 11 repeals the bulk of the Education (Scotland) Act 1996, which amongst other matters established the Scottish Qualifications Authority. The provisions which are repealed all relate to the Authority’s establishment.
244.Paragraph 12 repeals the Scottish Qualifications Authority Act 2002, which made provision for the membership and procedures of the Scottish Qualifications Authority and established a committee to consider and advise on qualifications awarded by it. The functions of the Authority will now be undertaken by Qualifications Scotland and the Accreditation Committee.
245.Paragraph 13 modifies the Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 2005 to replace references to the Scottish Qualifications Authority with references to Qualifications Scotland. This ensures that references to things which were previously done by the Scottish Qualifications Authority will continue to apply when those things are done by Qualifications Scotland.
246.Paragraph 14 modifies the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 so that Qualifications Scotland assumes the duty to publish a report of what steps it has taken to secure better or further effect of the rights and obligations set out in Part 1 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and specified parts of the protocols to it, in place of the Scottish Qualifications Authority.
247.Paragraph 15 modifies the Coronavirus (Recovery and Reform) (Scotland) Act 2022 to replace references to the Scottish Qualifications Authority approving education and training establishments with references to Qualifications Scotland doing so.