Education Reform

School reform

The Scottish Government has committed to a wide range of education reforms in Scotland. This includes a commitment to reforming education and skills public bodies in Scotland as part of its ongoing ambition for the public sector to become more efficient and financially sustainable.

In response to the March 2022 Muir Review the Scottish Government has progressed a programme of education reform which will replace the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) and refocus the work of the national education agency, Education Scotland. The Hayward Review on qualifications for learners aged 15-18 was also published in June 2023, feeding in to an updated long-term vision for improvement in education.

In June 2025, the Scottish Parliament passed the Education (Scotland) Bill which will create a new national qualifications body, along with an independent education inspectorate.

The Scottish Government has also been progressing a wide-ranging programme of reform to the school curriculum, qualifications and assessment.

Post-school reform

The changes for post-school education and research are underpinned by the government’s Purpose and Principles and James Withers’ Independent Review of the Skills Delivery Landscape, published in June 2023. The Withers Review recommended a number of changes to the current system to prioritise the needs and interests of learners, maximise the effectiveness and value for money of Scottish public bodies, and ensure parity of esteem between colleges and universities. The Review considered the functions and remit of SFC, alongside other bodies such as Skills Development Scotland (SDS), the enterprise agencies and the new education and qualifications bodies.

In June 2024 the Scottish Government launched a consultation on Post-School Education and Skills Reform on proposals for change in the post-school funding body landscape.

In January 2025, the Scottish Government confirmed that it will proceed with the proposal to consolidate all post-school provision funding with SFC, and all student support funding within the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS).

SAAS will take over the delivery of further education student support from academic year 2026-27. SAAS and SFC colleagues are working together closely to manage this transfer over the next 12 months.

In February 2025, the Scottish Government introduced the Tertiary Education and Training (Funding and Governance) (Scotland) Bill to simplify the funding landscape for post-school education and training. The Bill is at Stage 3.