Education Reform Delivery Board minutes - August 2026

Attendees and apologies

• Clare Hicks
• Lewis Hedge
• Alison Taylor
• Ruth Binks
• Donna McMaster
• Donna Stewart
• John Booth
• Simon Cameron
• Laurence Findlay
• Chris Dunne
• Elaine McAtamney

Apologies

• Nick Page
• Shirley Laing
• Molly Illingworth
• Pauline Hendry

PMO

• Lewis Worobec
• Lauren Siddalls

Items and actions

Welcome and introductions

The Chair welcomed members to the second Education Reform Delivery Board.

Actions from previous meeting

The minutes of the previous Delivery Board meeting were circulated to members on 24 June 2026, with comments requested by 17 July 2026. No comments were received and the minutes are therefore approved.

The Board noted that four actions remained outstanding following the previous meeting. Since then, two actions had been closed. It was further noted that the Invest to Save funding action could now be closed, following confirmation of funding decisions to organisations that had submitted bids.

One action remains open and continues to be monitored through the Education Reform Delivery Board action log.

Strategic update

Members were advised that Parliament would return next week, and that publication of the Programme for Government is expected shortly thereafter. It was noted that this would provide a clear narrative for public service reform and set out the Government's five year, outcomes focused ambitions across portfolio areas, aligned to First Ministerial priorities.

The Board noted that an Education Reform Programme Gateway Review would take place during November 2026. Further information on the review process and stakeholder engagement arrangements would be shared in due course, with some colleagues expected to contribute to interviews as part of the assurance process.

The Chair reflected on this year's Results Day, highlighting continued strength across Scotland's qualifications system, with improvements in narrowing the attainment gap and increasing uptake of vocational and technical qualifications. Progress in narrowing the poverty related attainment gap was welcomed, while recognising that challenges remain.

The Board noted the increasing volume and variety of qualifications being undertaken across the system, reflecting the broad range of opportunities available to learners, and the importance of ensuring that reform activity supports sustainable and effective delivery

An update was provided on wider Education and Skills Cluster activity. Members heard that further work was being progressed through cluster arrangements, including consideration of data and digital opportunities and the potential for greater sharing of services across organisations. This was recognised as an important area of activity in supporting wider public service reform ambitions.

The Board noted the growing emphasis on Additional Support for Learning (ASL) and the increasing number of learners requiring additional support across the system. Members recognised the importance of ensuring that reform activity considers both the needs of learners and the wider impact on system capacity and delivery, to support positive outcomes without creating additional pressures across the system. Further updates on this area are expected in due course.

An update was provided on the Scottish Attainment Challenge, which has now been in place for ten years. The Board noted that the current arrangements will continue through 2026/27, with discussions on longer term priorities and next steps ongoing. Engagement with the Cabinet Secretary and key partners is continuing, with further updates expected as that work progresses

Members were also advised that the next Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) statistics are due to be published on 8 September 2026. It was noted that the findings are likely to attract significant interest across the education sector. A fuller update on the results, including any implications for the Education Reform Programme, will be provided at a future meeting once analysis has been completed.

Curriculum and Qualifications Assurance Board update

The Board received an update from the Curriculum and Qualifications Assurance Board, which met on 13 August 2026.

Progress has been made towards publication of the Curriculum Improvement Cycle (CIC) technical framework. Members heard that draft materials had been shared earlier in the year to support engagement ahead of publication of the full draft framework in September 2026, with the evolved technical framework due to be published in January 2027. Planned milestones remain achievable and engagement activity is progressing as planned.

Members also noted ongoing discussions regarding proposed in-service days to support engagement and implementation activity across the education system. It was recognised that these arrangements will play an important role in supporting practitioner engagement and implementation planning, with further updates expected following discussions with the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SNCT) in September.

An update was provided on work to strengthen alignment between curriculum and qualifications reform. The Board noted that a Memorandum of Understanding had now been agreed between Education Scotland and Qualifications Scotland, with joint governance arrangements established to support collaborative working across both organisations.

The Board received an update on timing alignment considerations between implementation of curriculum changes and the introduction of new qualifications. Contingency planning had been undertaken to consider a range of delivery scenarios, including the potential implications of any delays to planned engagement activity and associated publication milestones. It was noted that wider engagement and development activity would continue under any revised scenario, with efforts focused on maintaining progress towards the planned August 2028 implementation date.

Members discussed potential delivery and implementation risks associated with any slippage to key milestones. The Board welcomed the proactive planning being undertaken and sought assurance that appropriate mitigations would continue to be developed to support delivery of the agreed timetable.

The Board noted an update on the development of the programme's Monitoring and Evaluation Strategy, which is expected to be published this year. Members discussed the importance of ensuring that the strategy remains aligned with programme governance and success criteria. It was noted that the Curriculum and Qualifications Assurance Board had received assurance regarding the overall approach being taken to monitoring and evaluation.

Members also received an update on Foundation Apprenticeships. The Board noted that policy and governance responsibility for Foundation Apprenticeships will transfer to the Curriculum, Qualifications and Achievement Division from September 2026 and that governance arrangements will move into the Education Reform Programme. Members welcomed the change, recognising the contribution that Foundation Apprenticeships make to the senior phase offer and the opportunities this provides to strengthen alignment with wider curriculum and qualifications reform activity.

Fiscal Sustainability project update

The Board received an update on the Fiscal Sustainability Project, including progress to date and planned activity to support the long term financial sustainability of education bodies within the scope of the programme. Members noted that baseline budgets for 2026/27 had now been agreed and published, with further work underway on financial reporting, workforce planning, governance arrangements and engagement with public bodies, finance teams and Public Sector Reform colleagues.

The Board also noted that the Fiscal Sustainability Project Initiation Document (PID) has been established and that work is ongoing to examine opportunities for more sustainable budget arrangements, including reducing reliance on in year budget transfers and providing greater certainty for organisations in their financial planning.

Members heard that the next phase of work will focus on strengthening medium term financial planning, improving the link between financial and corporate planning, supporting tailored improvement activity across individual bodies, and embedding fiscal sustainability considerations across the wider reform programme. Ongoing work will also seek to strengthen financial and performance reporting, with a greater focus on efficiencies and outcomes, supported by the establishment of a Fiscal Sustainability Steering Group.

In discussion, members welcomed the progress made to date and recognised the importance of ensuring that the organisations responsible for delivering education reform are placed on a sustainable financial footing. It was noted that financial sustainability remains a key priority for Ministers and that continued collaboration across organisations will be critical to achieving long term improvements.

Members highlighted the value of developing more stable and transparent funding arrangements to support forward planning and reduce financial uncertainty. The Board also recognised the importance of understanding financial pressures across the wider system, ensuring that efficiency activity does not inadvertently transfer costs elsewhere, and identifying opportunities to reduce duplication, improve value for money and support more effective use of public resources.

It was noted that the Fiscal Sustainability Project will provide an important input to the programme business case ahead of the Education Reform Programme Gateway Review in November, helping to ensure alignment between programme delivery, organisational sustainability and future investment decisions.

Delivery assessment

The Board received a Strategic Delivery Update, providing an overview of programme delivery progress, key milestones and the current programme roadmap. Members noted that the roadmap continues to evolve as projects mature and Project Initiation Documents (PIDs) are finalised, providing greater clarity on programme deliverables, dependencies and sequencing. The Board noted that the roadmap will continue to be refined as further work is completed and project plans are baselined.

Members discussed an updated programme roadmap and noted that key milestones had now been achieved, including draft curriculum National Practice Guidance materials and the transfer of responsibility for Further Education student support to SAAS for Academic Year 2026/27.

The Board discussed programme sequencing and noted that the roadmap now reflects Level 6 reformed qualifications being introduced ahead of Level 7 reformed qualifications, resulting in first delivery of Level 7 qualifications moving from 2032 to 2033. Members acknowledged that the change reflects a more detailed understanding of programme delivery requirements and implementation sequencing as project planning has developed.

Members discussed the implications of the revised sequencing and the importance of maintaining a clear and consistent narrative regarding programme timelines. The Board noted the need to ensure that Ministers and stakeholders are appropriately informed of significant milestone changes and that the rationale underpinning the programme timetable is clearly articulated.

Action: Curriculum and Qualifications colleagues to prepare advice for Ministers on the revised overall roadmap content in due course. This may include sequencing and timing of Level 6 and Level 7 reformed qualifications.

Members also discussed implementation planning and the importance of maintaining confidence in the overall delivery roadmap. It was recognised that further consideration was required in relation to implementation sequencing, including ongoing discussions on in-service days, engagement with the wider system and the overall timetable for curriculum and qualifications reform. Members highlighted the importance of ensuring a clear and consistent narrative ahead of future Ministerial engagement and requested a further update to provide assurance on the key milestones underpinning delivery.

Action: Programme Management Office and Curriculum and Qualifications colleagues to facilitate a review of the programme roadmap with input from organisations represented on the Board. This will include consideration of delivery feasibility, implementation sequencing, potential key dependencies and delivery assumptions, and provide a further update to the Delivery Board to support confidence in the overall programme timetable and planned milestones.

Programme risk, issue and dependency overview

The Board received an update on the programme risk, issue and dependency profile with an overview of risk proximity and planned resolution dates across the programme.

Members noted that the programme funding risk had now been escalated to a programme issue in recognition of the need to confirm future year funding requirements for curriculum improvement and qualifications reform. The Board heard that progress remains dependent on completion of a number of planned actions, including the development of future year costing models by both Qualifications Scotland and Education Scotland, which will inform the completion of the curriculum and qualifications reform business case. It was noted that resolution of these actions will be critical in supporting future funding discussions and providing assurance ahead of the upcoming Gateway Review.

In discussion, members agreed that the planned actions associated with the funding issue remained appropriate and reflected the work required to move forward. Concerns remained regarding future year funding certainty and the potential implications for programme delivery should funding requirements not be confirmed. Members emphasised the importance of maintaining momentum on the actions already identified and recognised the need to ensure sustainable financial footing for delivery of curriculum and qualifications reform. Members confirmed that no further information was required from the Scottish Government in order to complete the costing model work.

In relation to the funding risk members reflected on the wider implications of curriculum and qualifications reform beyond the immediate programme risks. It was noted that further consideration may be required in relation to broader organisational and sponsorship arrangements as reform activity progresses.

Action: Education Scotland and Qualifications Scotland colleagues to seek to prioritise the completion of multi-year costing model options.

Action: Programme Manager to consider whether the future funding and sustainability challenges associated with curriculum and qualifications reform should be reflected within wider organisational, directorate or portfolio level risk arrangements, and provide an update to a future Delivery Board.

The Board noted that progress had been made in relation to the Collective Alignment and Strategic Direction risk, with the recently agreed Memorandum of Understanding helping to strengthen collaborative working and reduce risk exposure. Members also noted ongoing work across several risks relating to planning, capacity and expectation alignment, recognising that several of these remain closely linked to completion of the business case and future funding discussions. The Board agreed that a number of these risks may require escalation to programme issues as work progresses to ensure appropriate visibility, oversight and management.

An update was also provided on the programme's dependency management approach. Members heard that work is underway to establish a dedicated programme dependency register, with previous programme dependencies currently being reviewed. Assurance was provided that significant progress had been made and a more comprehensive dependency report will be presented at a future meeting.

Any other business

None.