Scotland’s Education Secretary has confirmed the country’s controversial exams body will be abolished.
Shirley-Anne Somerville said the SQA would be replaced while also announcing the creation of a new inspectorate.
The SQA has been criticised on a range of fronts for its performance, particularly during the pandemic.
It comes amid wider criticism of the SQA and the separate Education Scotland agency, which is supposed to support “quality and improvement” in schools.
In a statement to MSPs, Somerville updated Holyrood on her plans following a report by an international body and expert advice.
She said: “Today I can confirm that the SQA will be replaced and that the Scottish Government will legislate for the creation of a new non-departmental public body with responsibility for the development and awarding of qualifications.”
She also said: “I can confirm that we will establish a new agency, building on the expertise within Education Scotland, which will provide excellent leadership and support for curriculum, assessment, learning and teaching while also having a lead role in relation to CfE.
Somerville said a new inspectorate would play a key role in raising standards, with the Scottish Government legislating to ensure its independence.
Her statement came after the SQA was mocked for the botched release of widely ridiculed revision support for pupils ahead of their exams.
The content was lampooned for being “patronising and useless” by teachers, pupils and politicians, with mockery about some of the basic advice being given to pupils.
Exam technique advice included suggestions such as “follow the instructions in the question paper carefully” and “think before you start writing”.
Physics pupils preparing for their Higher exams were also told: “It’s always a good idea to spell words correctly. An incorrectly spelled word may make your answer unclear or ambiguous.”
Tory MSP Oliver Mundell said: “ The SNP have frittered away another opportunity to fix our broken education system.
“After 15 years of neglect on their watch, Scotland’s education system requires a major overhaul, not a rebranding of the SQA masquerading as serious change.
“The public are not going to be fooled by this spin when they recognise the magnitude of the problems in education that the SNP have created and exacerbated.
“Pupils, teachers and parents were promised a new strategy, but it seems the SNP are only willing to commit to cosmetic changes, rather than addressing the failures at the heart of our education system.”
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