This Bill establishes a new body called Qualifications Scotland. It also creates a new office His Majesty's Chief Inspector of Education in Scotland.
This is a Government bill
The Bill was introduced on 4 June 2024 and is at Stage 2
This Bill is at Stage 2 of the process to decide if it should become an Act.
The Bill is in two main parts.
Part 1 of the Bill establishes Qualifications Scotland. Qualifications Scotland will:
Part 2 of the Bill establishes the Chief Inspector and sets out what they will do and how they will operate. The Chief Inspector will:
If the inspector finds that a school, or education authority, is not making necessary improvements Scottish Ministers can give enforcement directions if required. The Bill also gives Scottish Ministers the powers to require that improvements are made.
The Bill was created to support the education and skills reform being taken forward by the Scottish Government.
The changes brought in by the Bill respond to a range of reports and reviews, including:
Education (Scotland) Bill as introduced (2MB, pdf) posted 04 June 2024
Explanatory Notes (322KB, pdf) posted 04 June 2024
Policy Memorandum (349KB, pdf) posted 04 June 2024
Financial Memorandum (408KB, pdf) posted 04 June 2024
Delegated Powers Memorandum (234KB, pdf) posted 04 June 2024
Statements on legislative competence (109KB, pdf) posted 04 June 2024
Explanatory Notes (380KB, pdf) posted 04 June 2024
Policy Memorandum (444KB, pdf) posted 04 June 2024
Financial Memorandum (438KB, pdf) posted 04 June 2024
Delegated Powers Memorandum (280KB, pdf) posted 04 June 2024
Statements on legislative competence (158KB, pdf) posted 04 June 2024
All Bills introduced in the Parliament must be accompanied by specific documents. For most Bills, this includes:
Explanatory Notes: this document provides an overview of what the Bill does, plus a more detailed explanation of individual provisions.
Policy Memorandum: this sets out the objectives of the Bill. It also lists any alternatives considered, details of consultations, and an assessment of the effects of the Bill on a range of areas.
Financial Memorandum: this sets out estimates of costs, savings, and any changes to revenues expected to result from the Bill.
Delegated Powers Memorandum: this is needed if a Bill gives powers to make subordinate legislation or allows Scottish Ministers to issue directions, guidance or codes of practice.
Statements on legislative competence: two short statements, one by the Presiding Officer and one by the Member introducing the Bill. “Legislative competence” means the powers the Parliament has to make law.
The Scottish Parliament's Information Centre (SPICe) prepares impartial research and analysis to assist MSPs in their examination of Bills and other parliamentary business.
The Bill was introduced on 4 June 2024
At Stage 1, the Bill is given to a lead committee. This is usually the committee whose remit most closely relates to the subject of the Bill. The lead committee will consider and report on the Bill. Other committees may also examine the Bill and report to the lead committee. Finally, there is a debate and vote by all MSPs on the general principles of the Bill. If the general principles are not agreed to, then the Bill ‘falls’ and can’t become law.
On 30 October 2024, Parliament agreed motion S6M-15073, that consideration of the Education (Scotland) Bill at Stage 1 be completed by 20 December 2024.
The lead committee for this Bill is the Education, Children and Young People Committee.
The lead committee will usually examine the Bill through evidence sessions. This will involve contributions from individuals and organisations, known as 'witnesses', with knowledge of the subject matter. The committee might also discuss the Bill in private sessions.
The Committee's call for views had two options available to anyone wishing to share their views with the Committee.
There was a detailed call for views, for people, groups, bodies or organisations who wished to comment on specific aspects of the Bill.
Read the responses to the detailed call for views
There was a shorter call for views, for people who wished to express general views about the Bill.
Read the responses to the shorter call for views
The call for views closed on 30 August 2024.
Response from the Scottish Government to the Committee's Stage 1 report on the Education (Scotland) Bill, 13 December 2024
Letter from Scottish Qualifications Authority, 4 December 2024
Letter from Scottish Qualifications Authority, 4 October 2024
The Education, Children and Young People Committee published its report on 6 December 2024.
Education (Scotland) Bill - Stage 1 Report
The Scottish Government responded to the report on 13 December 2024.
If a Bill is relevant to more than one committee, 'secondary committees' may consider and report on the general principles of the Bill to the lead committee. Some Bills may also be considered by the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee or the Finance and Public Administration Committee.
The Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee published its report on 3 October 2024.
Letter from the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills to the Convener, 23 September 2024
Letter from the Convener to the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, 12 September 2024
A Stage 1 debate will take place on 18 December 2024 to consider and decide on the general principles of the Bill.
See further details of the motion
Result 96 for, 0 against, 21 abstained, 12 did not vote Vote Passed
See further details of the motion
The Bill ended Stage 1 on 18 December 2024
At Stage 2, MSPs can propose changes to a Bill. These are called 'amendments'. Any MSP can suggest amendments but only members of the Stage 2 committee can decide on them.
MSPs can currently submit amendments ("changes") to the Bill. A daily list of amendments will be published each day that amendments are lodged or withdrawn by MSPs. Following the deadline for amendments, the Marshalled List and Groupings of Amendments will be published to replace the daily lists.
The deadline for amendments will be added once the Stage 2 meeting date has been confirmed.
A Stage 2 'Marshalled List' is a list of all the amendments that have been lodged at Stage 2 (or, if the Stage is mid-way through, all those still to be dealt with). They are listed in the order in which they will be called by the convener and then decided on.
A 'Groupings' list shows how the amendments that are listed in the Marshalled List have been grouped together for debate. Each group contains amendments that are related to each other, even if they are at different places in the Marshalled List.