Archive News

• SQA rebalancing assessment for practical qualifications

  The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) has announced that it is removing exams from three of its National Qualifications ahead of session 2025-26.

• SQA appoints headteacher as Senior Advisor to strengthen support for Scotland's schools

  The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) has appointed experienced headteacher Sarah Brown as Senior Advisor.

• Scotland's new Chief Examiner returns to Dunfermline high school

• Modern Apprenticeship opportunities with SQA

  Find out more about Modern Apprenticeship opportunities at SQA.

• SQA announces new interim leadership structure

  The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) today announced a new interim leadership structure.

• Announcement regarding Scotland's Chief Examiner

  Scotland’s Chief Examiner and Chief Executive of SQA is moving on from her current role to pursue new opportunities.

• SQA focus groups reveal Scottish educators' attitudes towards GenAI

  SQA publishes the latest phase of its research on teachers' views of GenAI in education.

• SQA announces changes to exam timetable 2025

  SQA announces changes to the 2025 exam timetable for National 5, Higher, and Advanced Higher qualifications.

• New steps to promote anti-racism through qualifications

  SQA confirms changes to the language used in its documentation to promote anti-racism through education. 

• SQA seeks experienced head teacher for new senior role

  SQA is looking for experienced secondary head teacher to join it in a new senior advisory role.

• Scottish set text list for English courses updated to include more modern and diverse works

  The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) has published its new list of Scottish set texts for National 5 and Higher English courses for implementation from session 2025-26. This follows an extensive consultation that heard the views of teachers, learners, and literary experts from across the country.

• SQA announces more resources and support for History teachers

  SQA confirm more Higher History support and resources will be made available for teachers in 2025. 

• Action to support history teachers

  SQA, the Scottish Government and the Scottish Association of Teachers of History (SATH) met today to discuss the results of a survey of history teachers.

• Research reveals SQA is making positive progress among Scotland's teachers and learners

  The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) today published findings from one of its largest surveys of teachers, learners, parents and carers across Scotland.

• SQA publishes summary of appeal outcomes for National Qualifications in 2024

• SQA launches 'Your Voice' panels to help learners, teachers, and parents shape Qualifications Scotland

  The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) is today launching a ‘Your Voice’ campaign, calling on Scotland’s learners, teachers, lecturers, parents, and carers to sign up to new partnership panels.

• Roadmap to Qualifications Scotland unveiled, pledging to reset relationships with learners and teachers

  An ambitious blueprint for Scotland's new qualifications body is published today, marking the start of a year-long transition from SQA to Qualifications Scotland.

• SQA supports the College Development Network College Awards in its 25th year

  SQA sponsored the Judges’ Award category and this year’s winner was Dundee and Angus College.

• Higher History Review finds marking standards did not change - independent, external scrutiny confirms conclusion

  Review of Higher History has concluded that the marking standard in 2024 did not change 

• Update on National Courses for session 2024-25 onwards

  SQA has written to centres today regarding updates to a small number of courses from session 2024-25 onwards.

• SQA launches consultation on its Equality Outcomes 2025-2029

  We’re pleased to launch a public consultation on the revision of our Equality Outcomes for 2025-2029.

• SQA hosts Scottish Training Federation conference

  SQA has welcomed partners from the STF for their annual autumn conference. 

• SQA workshop gives Lourdes pupils tips on job success

  Staff from SQA visited Lourdes Secondary School in Cardonald to deliver an employability skills workshop for senior pupils.

• SQA publishes 2024 National Qualifications course reports

  The reports provide teachers and lecturers with a summary of how learners have performed in their exams and coursework for each subject at National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher level over the past year.

• Glasgow additional support needs school celebrates successes

  A Glasgow school for young people with complex additional support needs is celebrating the achievements of its pupils.

• Foundation Apprenticeships give learners a solid platform to work from

  Foundation Apprenticeships give learners the opportunity to gain experience of the workplace and achieve a valuable qualification while still being at school.

• SQA makes PE qualifications more accessible to disabled school pupils

  SQA publishes new guidance to help make PE qualifications more accessible to learners

• Malaysia recognises SQA qualifications

  SQA announces that ten of its industry-leading Advanced Diploma qualifications have been recognised by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency.

• Celebrating the achievements of care experienced young people

  SQA is a proud corporate parent, and has marked the achievements of these young people through a collaborative congratulatory video with messages from the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, charities Who Cares? Scotland and MCR Pathways and SQA staff.

• SQA celebrates 'achievements and hard work' of Scotland's learners on Results Day 2024

  Learners across Scotland will receive their national qualification results today (Tuesday 6 August 2024) as the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) celebrated their 'achievement and hard work'.

• SQA welcomes 'new era' of learner engagement on road to Qualifications Scotland

  Over the coming weeks and months, SQA will be working with the Scottish Government and a wide range of stakeholders to develop plans for future learner engagement to support the transition to Qualifications Scotland.

• Scottish Government appoints new Chair of SQA

  Shirley Rogers starts her new role on Friday 1 December, replacing David Middleton who has been in post since 2017.

• SQA welcomes Education (Scotland) Bill as a 'catalyst for change'

  The Scottish Government published the Education (Scotland) Bill this morning.

• SQA announces trial giving learners access to marked exam papers

  SQA today (Wednesday 22 May) announces that thousands of learners will be able to get access to some of their marked exam papers from their schools and colleges from Results Day on Tuesday 6 August.

• SQA research reveals impact of Artificial Intelligence on Scottish education

  New research reveals the impact Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) is having on education in Scotland.

• Apprenticeships give young talent chance to excel at SQA

  Apprenticeships give young talent chance to excel at SQA

• Exams underway for learners across Scotland

  The exam period begins on Monday 22 April and concludes on Thursday 30 May.

• SQA French classes prove successful with Alzheimer Scotland service users

  Alzheimer Scotland service users recently took part in a 12-week French language achieveing SQA National 2 units in French at a social enterprise in Glasgow.

• SQA confirms services for learners sitting National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher exams in 2023

  A free appeals service, which will give learners the right to request a review of their marked exam papers, will be available later this year.

• Research examines 2023 approach to National Courses

  Research reflecting teachers' and learners' experiences of National Courses in 2023 is published today.

• Signs of success for all to see at Dingwall Academy

  22 September 2023 - SQA's British Sign Language Awards are proving popular with pupils at Dingwall Academy.

• Update on National Qualifications 2023-24

  SQA provides an update on arrangements for National Qualifications in 2023-24.

• SQA launches consultation on Scottish set texts

  SQA wants your views on our Scottish set texts list for National 5 and Higher English. 

• New esports qualification opens the door to a billion-pound industry for Scottish students

  New esports qualification opens the door to a billion-pound industry for Scottish students

• SQA supporting Scottish Games Week

  This week saw Scottish Games Week take place; the first ever Scotland-wide series of events focused solely on video games. Running from Monday 24 October to Friday 28 October, the event sought to position the games sector as a key part of Scotland’s digital future.

• SQA publishes additional Appeals 2022 statistics

  Following the publication of overall 2022 appeals outcomes on Thursday 3 November, SQA has today published appeals data by course for National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher courses.

• Flair - a celebration of creativity

  Learners all over Scotland have artwork displayed in celebration online gallery.

• SQA's internationally recognised qualifications benefit global learners

  SQA is one of the sponsors at the Going Global conference in Edinburgh this week.

• Celebrating CyberScotland Week

  From 27 February to 3 March, CyberScotland Week aims to improve cyber awareness, showcase innovative work happening across the sector, and promote skills development and careers in cyber security.

• Unlocking the Potential of Scotland's Apprentices

  SQA is proud to support this year’s Scottish Apprenticeship Week and highlight the positive impact work-based learning has on people, businesses, and the local economy. Apprenticeships unlock learners’ potential and provide them with valuable skills and experience sought by employers. They also support sustained employment and upskilling, as well as opening up opportunities for young people from diverse backgrounds and abilities to gain skills that will support them throughout their life and in work.

• SQA publishes additional information on 2023 appeal outcomes

  SQA has published additional information regarding the National Qualification appeal outcomes in 2023.

• SQA publishes estimates and appeals data for 2023

  SQA has published national qualification appeals outcomes, and an analysis of the relationship between estimates and results awarded in August.2023

• Glasgow hosts international education credential conference

  More than 200 delegates are visiting Glasgow this week for the annual TAICEP conference. TAICEP (The Association for International Credential Evaluation Professionals) is hosting its first in-person conference since 2019 at the city’s Marriott Hotel. SQA has been a member of TAICEP since 2018 and has been instrumental in bringing this year’s event to Glasgow – the first event in Europe since the conference was held in Rome in 2017.

• SQA statement on publication of the Report of the Independent Review of Qualifications and Assessment (Hayward Review) and the update on Education Reform legislation

  Statement on publication Hayward Review from David Middleton, Chair of the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA).

• SQA statement on publication of the Independent Review of the Skills Delivery Landscape

  Fiona Robertston, SQA Chief Executive, has responded to the publication of the Independent Review of the Skills Delivery Landscape.

• Coursework to return for Scotland's learners next session

  SQA outlines plans for National Qualifications (NQ) and Higher National and Vocational Qualifications (HNVQ) assessment for 2023-24.

• SQA publishes 2022-2025 Gaelic Language Plan

  SQA has today published its revised 2022-2025 Gaelic Language Plan, in accordance with the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005, which recognises Gaelic as an official language of Scotland.

• SQA gathers thousands of views on National Qualifications in 2022

  Learners, teachers, lecturers, parents and carers have reflected on their experiences of National Qualifications in a large-scale evaluation of the approach taken to awarding in 2022.

• SQA responds to evidence given to Education, Children and Young People Committee on education reform

  We engaged positively with Professor Muir throughout his review, and so we were disappointed by the evidence given to the Education Committee.