Context for transformation - Scottish Funding Council

Register with us

Post-16 Education and Skills Reform

Post-School Education and Skills Reform

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 received Royal Assent on 11 March 2026 and is now an Act: Tertiary Education and Training (Funding and Governance) (Scotland) Act 2026

Independent Review of the Skills Delivery Landscape

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.

SFC National Review

A Review of Tertiary Education and Research

In 2020, Scottish Ministers wrote to SFC to commission us to undertake a review of coherent provision and sustainability. In June 2021, we published our final Coherent Provision and Sustainability: A Review of Tertiary Education and Research report [PDF], which were subsequently endorsed by Scottish Government.

The final report set out the significant strengths of Scotland’s colleges and universities, the challenges we face and key recommendations for system change, including:

Developing a clear strategic, longer term vision and intent for the future of tertiary education and research undertaken by colleges and universities in Scotland.
Protect excellent discovery research and develop mission-orientated research/knowledge exchange activities.
Build capacity and a more systematic approach to the way we collectively plan coherent tertiary provision and skills provision and investment.
Find better ways to support learning throughout life.
Ensure the interests of current and future students are protected.
Recognise more fully the importance of international education connections.
Galvanise current and future leaders across tertiary education, skills provision and research.

Alongside the final report we published:

Coherent Provision and Sustainability: A Review of Tertiary Education and Research – Summary [PDF]

Coherent Provision and Sustainability: A Review of Tertiary Education and Research Annex 1: Recommendation [PDF]

Coherence and Sustainability: Financial Sustainability of Colleges and Universities [PDF]

Review Briefing

We developed a Review Briefing Note [PDF] with detail on the scope, nature and timing of the review.

Other review material

Phase One Reports

The Phase 1 report – Coherence and Sustainability: A review of Scotland’s Colleges and Universities Phase One Report: Insights to Develop Further [PDF] – reflects the views of more than 100 organisations and many individuals. It was published as part of the Review of Coherent Provision and Sustainability, alongside:

Phase Two Progress Update

The Review of Coherent Provision and Sustainability – Progress Update – March 2021 [PDF] report provided an update on activity since the publication of our Phase 1 Review Report, with a particular focus on addressing the immediate challenges presented by COVID-19 and on our developing thinking across the themes identified through our call for evidence.

Responses to our Call for Evidence

In line with our commitment to a transparent and collaborative process, we published responses to the Phase 1 Call for Evidence. Annex B (Respondent Information) was removed and responses were published in alphabetical order.

Commission from Scottish Ministers

Richard Lochhead MSP, Minister for Further Education, Higher Education and Science, wrote to SFC Chair, Mike Cantlay, on 3 June 2020 to commission SFC to undertake a review of coherent provision and sustainability.

30 June 2020: Response from SFC Chair, Mike Cantlay, to Ministerial commission.

Related reforms

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.