Qualifications Body Transition Board minutes - January 2025

Attendees and apologies

Members

• Clare Hicks, SG Director of Education Reform – Transition Board Co-Chair (CH)

• Shirley Rogers, SQA Board Chair – Transition Board Co-Chair (SR)

• Naureen Ahmad, SG Deputy Director Lifelong Learning and Skills (NA)

• Kirsty Ayed, School Leaders Scotland (KA)

• George Brown, SQA Head of Accreditation (GB)

• Ronnie Erskine, SQA Board (RE)

• Seán Hagney, SQA Board (SH)

• Andy Harvey, EIS (AH)

• Allan Lindsay, Young Scot (AL)

• Erin McCabe, Unite (EM)

• Stuart McKenna, Scottish Training Federation (SM)

• Claire McPherson, Universities Scotland (CM)

• Isabel Nisbet, Independent Adviser (IN)

• Pauline Radcliffe, SCQF (PR)

• Mark Ratter, ADES (MR)

• Jon Reid, School Leaders Scotland, Falkirk Council (JR)

• Fiona Robertson, SQA Chief Executive (FR)

• Ken Thomson, SQA Board (KT)

• Andy Witty, Colleges Scotland (AW)

In attendance

• Simon Allan, SQA (SA)
• Andy Alston, SQA (AA)
• Steve Banks, SQA (SB)
• Alison Barclay, Unison - depute for Liz Cunningham (AB)
• Lisa Bird, SG Deputy Director of Education Reform (LB)
• John Booth, SQA Director of Communications (JB)
• Steve Borley, SQA (SB)
• Bill Cullen, SQA (BC)
• Raymond Holloway, SQA (RH)
• Katie Lyle, SG (KL)
• Dawnne Mahmoud, SQA Director of People (DM)
• Stuart McLaren, SQA (SMcL)
• Jaxon Parish, SG (JP)
• Seamus Searson, SSTA (SS) – depute for Euan Duncan
• Graham Thomson, SG (GT)
• Kieran Watson, SG (KW)
• Sarah Widdall, SG (SW)
• Mark Wilson, SQA (MW)

Secretariat

• Karen Ferguson, SQA
• John Keenan, SG
• Anna Kerr, SQA
• Niamh McGhee, SG

Apologies

• Reid Aiton, Young Scot
• Liz Cunningham, Unison
• Keegan Friel, SQA Secretariat

Items and actions

Opening remarks

Welcome and apologies

SR welcomed everyone to the meeting and noted apologies.

SR welcomed MR to his first meeting of the Transition Board as a representative of ADES.

Declaration of any conflicts of interest

There were no declarations of conflicts of interest.

Previous meeting - approval of minutes from 19 November 2024 and matters arising

The minutes of the meeting on 19 November were approved as an accurate record of the meeting.

SR noted that the Terms of Reference were included in the papers and asked members to review and email the secretariat with any proposed amendments.

Implementation plan

Vision for QS: where are we trying to get to?

Education (Scotland) Bill - progress and next steps

JP presented a summary of the progress of the Education (Scotland) Bill, where Stage 1 was completed at the end of December with the Scottish Parliament agreeing to the principles of the Bill. JP noted that Stage Two would likely commence at the end of February/early March.

Members welcomed the Bill completing Stage 1 and commented on the importance of ensuring that the significant change from SQA to Qualifications Scotland was perceived to be meaningful by stakeholders and the wider public particularly in terms of culture, and that the change could be evidenced.

New governance arrangements were also raised and SR asked that she met with JP to discuss how this can be taken forward.

CH noted that the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills’ final feedback on her commission was almost complete. Members went on to discuss the location and resourcing of the accreditation function and the importance of the separation of the awarding and accreditation functions.

Action - JP to meet with SR to discuss new governance arrangements. KF to arrange.

Transition: what is required for Day 1?

Project update - branding and visual identity

SMcL, GT and SB presented an update on the branding and visual identity project for Qualifications Scotland (QS) outlining the scope of work involved and progress so far. Key objectives for the branding project and timelines for completion were discussed.

Members provided varied feedback on the three proposed QS designs which are to be tested with focus groups before being submitted to the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills. Members went on to comment on international recognition and continuity together with the associated risks, Gaelic titling and incorporating a ‘Scottish’ element into the branding. Whether to use Qualification Scotland’s full name or its initials was also discussed.

AW offered to support further college sector engagement in the branding and identities work.

The importance of having distinct and complementary branding for the accreditation function was emphasised by members and there was some concern raised around adhering to the tight timescale to enable QS to certificate and accredit qualifications on Day 1.

Action – GT, SMcL and AW to take forward arrangements for further college sector involvement in the branding and identities work

Programme update

BC presented an update on the transition programme, noting that all Project Boards have now formally met and are working towards the requirements of Day 1.

SR noted that the Project Boards are beginning to properly come together, emphasising the need to have sight of high-level risks and dependencies and asked for this to be discussed at the next Transition Board. This suggestion was welcomed by members and the Secretariat will liaise with BC to take forward.

Members also inquired whether governance meetings will be held publicly in future, which will be discussed further in future meetings.

Action – Key risks and dependencies to be included as an agenda item at the next Transition Board.

Action – BC to meet with RE to discuss risks.

Transformation: what will happen longer term?

Culture and values

RH, SA and SW presented their findings from a series of well-attended culture and values sessions with SQA staff. Those sessions aimed to identify what staff felt was working well, what required improvement and to discuss the Core Values defined as Open, Connected, Caring and Brave. It was noted that an implementation plan is being developed to integrate these values into QS.

Members welcomed the work done on core values and asked what they could do to model and promote these values, particularly in terms of adopting a positive approach towards the changes taking place.

SR indicated that perspectives of appointees would be considered in the next phase of the culture and values work.

Any other business

None raised.

Date of next meeting

The date of the next meeting is Tuesday 25 February. CH to chair.