SQA replaced by Qualifications Scotland on 1 Dec

Scotland’s qualifications system is changing its legal signposts. Ministers have signed the Education (Scotland) Act 2025 (Consequential Provisions) Regulations 2025, made on 3 December and laid before the Scottish Parliament on 5 December. In plain terms, older laws that used to name the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) are being updated to name the new body, Qualifications Scotland.

For your timeline: section 1 of the Education (Scotland) Act 2025, which establishes Qualifications Scotland, started on 1 December 2025. These tidy‑up changes kick in on the day section 1 is fully commenced. Scottish Government papers indicate the new body is set to be fully operational on 1 February 2026, when SQA’s functions transfer. Sources: legislation.gov.uk and Scottish Government programme board minutes.

If you already hold SQA certificates, keep them safe - they remain valid. A transitory rule written into the first commencement regulations treats SQA‑devised or SQA‑accredited qualifications as relevant alongside Qualifications Scotland’s awards until 30 November 2029. That continuity is there to protect learners and staff during the changeover.

What changes for schools and colleges right now? Day to day, teaching, assessment windows and learner support continue. The Act creates a new structure - a Board, an Accreditation Committee, plus learner and practitioner voices and charters - which Qualifications Scotland must stand up as it takes on its role. Expect guidance to arrive under the new name through this academic year.

Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA): the Student Support (Scotland) Regulations 2022 are being updated so that where they used to reference SQA standards for non‑advanced courses, they now reference Qualifications Scotland. This is a name change in law, not a new hurdle. If you are eligible for EMA today, follow your school, college or council’s existing process and deadlines.

Council tax and student or apprentice status: the Council Tax (Discounts) (Scotland) Order 2003 is being refreshed to point to Qualifications Scotland instead of SQA. If you are an apprentice training towards a Qualifications Scotland‑accredited qualification, or a student who recently completed a qualification before taking up a degree offer, your council should continue to count you the same way for discount purposes. Keep your offer letters and proof of study to hand and speak to your council tax team if you need written confirmation.

Workplace training that relies on named qualifications also updates. For licensed premises, staff training can be accredited by Qualifications Scotland. For road works, competence certificates and the register shift to Qualifications Scotland as the registration body. Training providers will update certificates and cards; you should not have to retrain solely because the awarding body’s name has changed.

Fair access duties move too. Under the Equality Act 2010, Scotland designates an “appropriate regulator” to set technical specifications around reasonable adjustments in qualifications. Those 2010 regulations previously named SQA; this new instrument updates that role to Qualifications Scotland. If you need adjustments for disability, the regulator you’ll look to is changing name - the duties stay.

Specialist areas are covered so nothing falls between the cracks. References are updated in rules for St Mary’s Music School aided places, the welfare of animals at the time of killing (where qualifications are needed for competence), and the protection of charity assets. Again, this is continuity: existing routes remain valid under the new name.

What to do next: keep using current guidance from your school, college or training provider; store your SQA results as normal; watch for Qualifications Scotland branding on certificates and letters from this term; and, for EMA or council tax questions, ask your local authority for a short written note while the switch beds in. Our sources for dates and duties are legislation.gov.uk and Scottish Government programme papers, which you can cite in class discussions or parent updates.