Qualifications Body Transition Board minutes - November 2025

Attendees and apologies

Members:

• Shirley Rogers, SQA Board Chair – Transition Board Co-Chair (SR)
• Clare Hicks, SG Director of Education Reform – Transition Board Co-Chair (CH)
• George Brown, SQA Accreditation (GB)
• Sarah Brown, SQA Schools Partnership Unit (SB)
• Liz Cunningham, Unison (LC)
• Seán Hagney, SQA Board (SH)
• Andy Harvey, EIS (AH)
• Ronnie Erskine, SQA Board (RE)
• Erin McCabe, Unite (EM)
• Isabel Nisbet, Independent Advisor (IN)
• Pauline Radcliffe, SCQF (PR)
• Seamus Searson, SSTA (SS)
• Ken Thomson SQA Board (KT)
• Andy Witty, Colleges Scotland (AW)
• Mark Ratter, ADES (MR)

In attendance:

• Naureen Ahmad, SG Deputy Director, Lifelong Learning and Skills (NA)
• Simon Allan, SQA (SA)
• Andy Alston, SQA (AA)
• John Booth, SQA Director of Communications (JB)
• Bill Cullen, SQA (BC)
• Sarah Hart, SG (SaH)
• Dawnne Mahmoud, SQA Director of People (DM)
• Kerry McMillan, SQA (KM)
• Nick Page, SQA Chief Executive (NP)
• Jaxon Parish, SG (JP)
• Stephanie Sinclair, SG (StS)
• Mark Wilson, SQA (MW)

Secretariat:

• Karen Ferguson, SQA (KF)
• John Keenan, SG (JK)
• Anna Kerr, SQA (AK)
• Niamh McGhee, SG (NM)

Apologies:

• Eni Adesida, SG
• Reid Aiton, Young Scot
• Steve Borley, SQA
• Keegan Friel, SQA
• Chris Kelly, CBI
• Allan Lindsay, Young Scot
• Stuart McKenna, Scottish Training Federation
• Claire McPherson, Universities Scotland
• Mark Ratter, ADES (left early due to a diary clash)
• Declan Walsh, SQA

Items and actions

Opening remarks

Welcome and apologies

SR welcomed everyone to the meeting, noting apologies.

CH noted that she had to leave the meeting early due to a diary clash.

Declaration of any conflicts of interest

There were no declarations of conflicts of interest

Approval of minutes and matters arising

There were no further comments on the minutes for the August meeting, so they are approved for publication.

SR noted the letter sent from CH to members regarding commencement and highlighted the Qualifications Scotland establishment date of 1 December and the expected operational date of 1 February. SR added that pending approval from the Cabinet Secretary on Board appointments, the Board should be fully constituted and in place before Christmas. SR noted that JP will be providing further details on commencement later in the meeting, with MK and KM discussing planned activities from SQA/Qualifications Scotland.

Implementation Plan

Vision for education reform

Post-school education and skills reform programme update

SR introduced StS, Reform Programme Team Leader to give overview of the Programme and progress so far. StS described the five interconnected strands of work: simplification of the funding body landscape and the associated Tertiary Education and Training Bill, Skills Planning, Improving Careers, Apprenticeships and Post School Qualifications.

In relation to the work on post school qualifications, NA noted that the qualifications audit covers a wide range and type of qualifications across Scotland and should provide important insights but added that it was difficult to predict what the findings are likely to be due to this being the first time such work has been done.

In response to members’ requests for further information about the programme, StS agreed to have relevant documentation to be sent to members. CH added that work was being done on a joint route-map across school and post-school programmes.

Action – Secretariat to distribute StS’ slides on governance.

Transition: what is required for day 1?

Education (Scotland) Act update - commencement provisions

JP updated members on SG’s commencement planning and the enaction of provisions from the transition plan, identifying the two main phases of commencement and emphasising the need to maintain the momentum of transition. JP assured members that SG officials are working closely with SQA colleagues to make the transition process as smooth as possible.

SR noted plans to commence recruitment for the new committees would soon be underway, highlighting the importance of ensuring that this work utilises the widest and most diverse talent pool, where the views of all stakeholders can be represented.

Qualifications Scotland establishment - communications and engagement

MW and KM provided an overview of planned comms and engagement activities across the transition to Qualifications Scotland, noting the use of a three-phase approach. This consists of a preparatory phase between October and February, followed by the official launch between December and February and a third phase from February to March which will focus on demonstrating change. Arrangements put in place to provide qualitative and quantitative data as a method to measure success were also highlighted. 

NP discussed the development of a Corporate Plan and emphasised the need to reflect fundamental change and improvement, highlighting the importance of the involvement of stakeholders.  

Members noted the importance of providing messages of reassurance both internally and externally during this crucial period of transformational change, with clarity on how Qualifications Scotland is different from the SQA and what the benefits of that will be both in the short and longer term. SR added that suitable metrics will be used to support an effective evaluation of that change.

Programme Dashboard update (including finance)

JB updated members on the Programme Dashboard and noted it was tracking Amber with a clear path to Green, highlighting some further work required relating to charitable status and accreditation.

BC noted that the transition finance was tracking Green and were maintaining a balanced budget.

Members noted that embargo on logos until 1 February could raise some practical challenges.

Transformation: what will happen longer-term?

Update on Qualifications Reform - external engagement and co-creation

SA provided members with an update on qualifications reform and SQA’s approach to generating an evidence base, with a specific focus on external stakeholder engagement and co-creation.

SB spoke about up-coming opportunities for in-person events for the teaching profession and PR offered the involvement of SCQF School Ambassadors Network.

Members noted that it was important to have a coherent approach to evidence gathering with stakeholders to make it more targeted, efficient and with less duplication.

Any other business

SR noted that although the primary function of the Transition Board will no longer be required after the establishment of Qualifications Scotland, there was still a need to ensure effective transformation whilst also keeping sight of the wider education reform work which still needs to be undertaken.

SR added that future governance arrangements are being considered and noted that members will be updated early next year.

Date of next meeting

The date of the next meeting is Tuesday 20 January 2026. CH to chair.