Education Reform Programme Board minutes - August 2025

Attendees and apologies

 

• Clare Hicks
• Lisa Bird
• Graeme Logan
• Naureen Ahmad
• Lewis Hedge
• Sarah Hart
• Molly Illingworth
• Adrianos Evangelidis
• John Booth
• Nick Page
• Bill Cullen
• Janie McManus
• Alison Macdonald
• Gillian Hamilton
• Rob Strachan
• Laura Caven
• Laurence Findlay

Apologies:

• Chris Dunne
• Letitia Donnelly
• Graham Thomson
• Sean Stronach
• Shirley Laing

Secretariat:

• Pauline Hendry
• Lewis Worobec

Items and actions

Welcome and introductions

The Chair welcomed members and noted apologies. Nick Page was introduced as the newly appointed Chief Executive of SQA.

Previous action points

The minutes of the previous meeting were agreed without comment.

There are 3 open actions from the last board.

• Fiona Comrie and Jennifer Lowry to liaise with Education Scotland to assess the impact of a professional learning cluster on organisational design work, which Education Scotland are leading on. Consideration should be given to the impact to staff messaging, transition timescales and avoidance of duplicating functions - SG has been supporting ES through the OD process, PSR cluster work has been delayed while procurement for the independent facilitator is undertaken. An update will be provided to Education Scotland on timings of this once concluded. SG will continue to work with ES to support staff communications
• PMO to invite the University of Glasgow to update the Board on progress following formal establishment of the Centre for Teaching Excellence - Action open - a further update will be provided following its formal launch, provisionally scheduled for 3 September 2025
• Programme Board members to be updated on senior recruitment plans later in the summer, following Stage 3 of the Education (Scotland) Bill - Plans will be confirmed in due course

Education (Scotland) Bill

Members were informed that the Education (Scotland) Bill received Royal Assent on 6 August 2025. The Bill has now officially become an Act of the Scottish Parliament, which was welcomed as a key milestone for the Programme.

Members were provided with a brief overview of the Act, with Stage 3 concluding at the end of June. It was noted there was a significant level of engagement throughout the legislative process, and that while numerous amendments were made, the final Act delivers the Scottish Government’s core reform aims and ambitions, with clear provisions on roles, leadership expectations, and partnership working.

A supporting document was issued in advance of the meeting, summarising the key aspects of the legislation, including changes introduced through the amendment process, and sets out what comes next—such as planned consultations, reviews, and the broader context for implementation.

Members welcomed Royal Assent and asked how this would the anticipated timescales for commencement and regulation-making.

It was confirmed that work on the commencement plan is underway, and a timeline will be developed and shared with Programme Board members once available.

Action: SG to share the Education (Scotland) Act commencement plan with Programme Board members once finalised.

Curriculum and Qualifications Reform

The Board received an update following the recent Curriculum and Qualifications Reform Assurance Board, with a focus on the publication of the reform timeline in June 2025.

The timeline sets out high-level delivery milestones and has been developed with input from key partners including SDS, ADES, and SCQF.

Board members noted that while the publication of the timeline is a helpful step, further engagement is needed across the system to ensure collective understanding of what the timeline means in practice—particularly for delivery partners, schools, and teachers. Members reflected on the need for targeted communications and capacity building whilst ensuring clear visibility and awareness of curriculum and qualifications reform across the system. It was noted that work on communications and engagement has already started.

Discussions from the recent Assurance Board identified emerging priorities, including the sequencing of professional learning, inspection frameworks, and understanding system dependencies. Detailed costing is also in development, providing a more robust framework for programme delivery planning.

During the discussion, a request was made for a short, accessible summary of the reform work and key milestones to support wider stakeholder understanding. Members were directed towards the Curriculum and Qualifications Reform timeline published on the Scottish Government website in June, providing an overview of curriculum and qualifications reform and a high-level delivery timeline with key milestones.

Members raised the importance of building teacher capacity, recognising ongoing workload and resourcing concerns. The possibility of using in-service time to support reform work was noted, alongside the importance of aligning expectations with the current financial and staffing climate.

Members were invited to reflect on communications, engagement, and capacity building across the wider Education Reform Programme. It was suggested that this could be explored further later in the year, alongside risks, dependencies, and how key milestones are communicated to the wider system.

Project Steering and Assurance Group update

The chair opened the item by noting the complexity and pace of the work required to stand up the new national bodies.

An update was provided to members on overall programme progress, drawing on discussions at the Project Steering and Assurance Group (PSAG) meeting on 23 July. The assessment of deliverability remains amber/red, with continued focus on readiness for Day 1. It was noted that the building blocks required for both organisations to function from Day 1 are becoming clearer, with the Education (Scotland) Act providing welcome clarity on transition planning.

While timescales remain constrained, progress is being made. The importance of aligning Education (Scotland) Act commencement planning with transition delivery activity for both Qualifications Scotland and HMIE was noted.

Members noted that transition preparations are progressing for Qualifications Scotland, with several red risks now reduced due to increased clarity from the passage of the Education (Scotland) Act. However, challenges around ES and HMIE transition activity remains, with ongoing concerns linked to organisational design and resource capacity.

It was noted that a gateway review is planned for the programme in September.

The Centre for Teaching Excellence is progressing well, with a formal launch scheduled for 3 September 2025.

Programme risk profile overview

An overview of the current programme risk profile was provided to members, with a focus on transition ahead of Day 1. The Chair invited reflections from Board members on how delivery risk is currently being assessed across the programme.

The top three risks relate to transition and are closely linked: transition delivery planning (rated red, score 250), people resourcing, and affordability (each rated red, score 200). All three are interconnected and tied to critical areas such as budget confirmation, staff availability, and organisational readiness.

While progress has been made—following Royal Assent of the Education (Scotland) Act—constrained timescales continue to present challenges. Mitigation actions are in place and being managed actively. However, organisational design work remains a concern and is currently delayed, work is ongoing to secure required resource for ES/HMIE as well as supporting Qualifications Scotland in securing required transition funding.

The current assessment is that transition to Day 1 remains feasible, but key risks are due to be resolved in August. If not addressed within this timeframe, they may escalate to issues, with wider implications for deliverability and reflecting a need for contingency planning.

The chair invited reflections from Board members on the risk profile and noted that if the planned mitigation activity is not achieved within the expected timeline, the programme could move into a different delivery position.

Education Scotland and HMIE - Day 1 readiness update

An update was provided to members by Gillian Hamilton and Janie McManus on Day 1 readiness for Education Scotland and HMIE, offering assurance on progress and highlighting the complex nature of the transition programme. Reform was described as a process, building on work initiated in 2021 to define the future structure, remit, and functions of both organisations.

The update covered the extensive transition planning underway across four core areas: people, process, governance, and technology. While many elements are progressing well, organisational design (OD) remains a key dependency, with progress across a number of workstreams awaiting its completion. It was noted that detailed structural work is ongoing, with mapping and matching processes set to begin once proposals are confirmed. Engagement with staff and Trade Unions (TUS) will be required as implementation progresses. While final structures may not be fully in place by Day 1, work is expected to be well underway, though some vacancies may still need to be filled beyond that point.

The Annual Action Plan (AAP) for 2025-26 will focus on the delivery of ‘key actions’ set against 4 ‘refocus through reform’ areas: Curriculum, Professional leadership and learning, Scottish Attainment Challenge and Inspection. These reflect the shared priorities of both organisations and offer assurance on the transition pathway. An initial proposal for shared services has been developed and shared with Scottish Government, with further refinement underway.

Progress is being tracked through a delivery roadmap, with oversight of key milestones maintained by the co-chairs of the Transition Oversight Group. Additional resource has been brought in to support governance work during this critical phase of the programme.

Members reflected on balancing reform alongside current operations. Maintaining staff wellbeing, delivering continuity of service, and managing organisational change in line with public sector reform commitments were noted as key priorities. It was highlighted that the OD work is expected to conclude shortly, recognising the need to work through various layers of complexity and the Scottish Government’s commitment to reducing the overall footprint of the public sector.

Members raised the importance of ensuring Community Learning and Development (CLD) and adult learning are reflected in planning, particularly from a post-school perspective. The broader challenge of aligning all elements of reform was noted, recognising that not all pieces of the system are fully connected at this stage.

The Board welcomed the update and emphasised the need for continued clarity on shared services, corporate functions, governance structures, and how service delivery will evolve beyond Day 1.

Qualifications Scotland - Day 1 readiness and transformation

The Board received an update from John Booth on the work underway to establish Qualifications Scotland (QS), with a focus on readiness for Day 1 and the broader transformation ambitions beyond that point.

It was noted that the immediate priority is ensuring continuity of service for learners and staff on Day 1. This includes TUPE arrangements, transition of email and website domains, and digital identity across third-party platforms. These elements are progressing well, with Day 1 branding and digital infrastructure under development.

The transformation agenda remains a significant priority and is progressing in parallel with Day 1 preparations. While some aspects such as the establishment of the QS Board and progress on accreditation are underway, broader transformation activity will continue beyond Day 1.

While some Day 1 priorities remain challenging, particularly in relation to timelines and capacity, the organisation is progressing well. The QS website is expected to be live ahead of Day 1. Work to develop and migrate content including a substantial volume of legacy SQA pages is ongoing, with a mock-up homepage shared for illustration.

Risks around delivery include timing, pay negotiations, and the complexity of transition tasks. Mitigations are in place and the Board noted that focused delivery over the coming weeks would be crucial.

Board members reflected on the importance of maintaining a shared reform narrative and coordinating post-Day 1 activity without duplication. Members highlighted the need to clarify delivery pace and expectations across the system, suggesting further conversations on operational planning, governance, and collaborative delivery.

Members also noted the natural divergence emerging as the new organisations progress at different rates and emphasised the need to keep the system focused on the overarching reform aims. The Chair reinforced that collaboration across the new bodies will be essential to align to the Education (Scotland) Act’s intent and to demonstrate meaningful reform in practice. It was also stressed that the current period is a critical window, with key dependencies due to be delivered by August. While mitigation actions are in train, it was noted that delays beyond this point could alter the Programme’s overall position and emphasised the importance of maintaining focus on transition delivery.

It was confirmed that the Education Reform communications and engagement team is progressing plans up to Day 1. These will be shared with organisations to ensure alignment with wider communications for the new and refocussed organisations. It was agreed that Curriculum and Qualifications Reform communications would be integrated into this wider programme approach.

Digital Health Check review and strategy

An overview was provided of the recent Digital Health Check, carried out in July by the Scottish Government’s Digital Assurance Unit. The review assessed digital readiness across the new and refocused organisations ahead of Day 1, with a focus on areas such as planning, governance, data protection, and overall programme controls. The outcome was an amber delivery confidence rating, confirming that successful delivery is feasible but that key issues require attention.

The findings align with known challenges, offering independent validation and highlighting where further focus is required. A set of recommendations has been provided, and an action plan is being developed and will be shared once complete.

The importance of robust digital governance beyond Day 1 was emphasised, alongside the need to build momentum and align with broader digital strategies across the public sector. Members were updated on the programme’s digital approach, next steps in assurance, and priorities for implementation.

Board members welcomed the update and noted the need for shared understanding of what digital transformation means in practice. There was agreement that coordination across organisations will be vital. Points were raised about the challenges of progressing within constrained budgets and the need for the digital programme to support wider system improvement, including engagement with educators and learners.

It was also suggested that this work be closely aligned with existing digital strategies across government and local authorities. The programme’s current strategy was seen as a strong foundation, with the next phase focused on delivering against known priorities, joining up activity, and responding to sector-wide needs.

Action: PMO to coordinate bilateral discussions with organisations ahead of agreeing next steps on digital assurance.

Any other business

No additional items were raised under AOB. Members were thanked for their contributions and ongoing support for delivery during this critical phase of the programme.