Qualifications Scotland seeks views on its corporate parenting commitments
Qualifications Scotland has launched a consultation asking learners, teachers, practitioners, parents and carers for their views on its proposed corporate parenting commitments, which will influence its new Corporate Parenting Plan for 2027-2030.
Joanne Lawrie, Equality and Diversity Manager at Qualifications Scotland, said: “Our corporate parenting plan commitments celebrate the unique strengths of care experienced people and focus on creating positive opportunities across every stage of a person’s life — supporting their wellbeing, relationships, education, and career growth".
“As a corporate parent, our role is to listen to care experienced people; understand their individual experiences; remove barriers that are in our gift to do so; and provide the support and opportunities they need to learn, achieve, progress and thrive.
The proposed commitments focus on the five foundations of The Promise : Voice, Family, Care, People, and Scaffolding.
Key priorities within the draft commitments include ensuring care experienced learners have a meaningful role in shaping Qualifications Scotland’s Learner Charter and in the development of future qualifications; reviewing assessment materials to accommodate disrupted learning; and treating care experience as a protected characteristic in impact assessments.
Qualifications Scotland also aims to foster further internal staff understanding through specialised training and expand the number of direct employment, internship, and work experience opportunities for care experienced young people.
Denise Rooney, Corporate Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Manager at Qualifications Scotland said: “We know that care experience can have a lifelong impact on people. We recognise that people may need support at different stages of their lives, including through education, training, employment and into adulthood.
“We want care experienced learners to fulfil their potential and to do this we need to consider their needs as a priority in everything we do. Our draft commitments are informed by the progress we’ve made as Qualifications Scotland and demonstrate our ongoing work as a committed corporate parent.”
Nick Page, Qualifications Scotland chief executive said: “We are proud corporate parents. Our duties are not only a responsibility, but an opportunity to make a positive difference to the lives of care experienced people.
“Our organisation plays a significant role in the lives of young people, and we have an important part to play in helping to secure positive educational outcomes for care experienced learners.
“We want to hear from learners themselves as well as teachers, practitioners, carers and those important supporters of care experienced people. Their feedback is invaluable, and it will help us set out our ambitions for the next three years and demonstrate our continued dedication to supporting care experienced learners and improving outcomes.”
The consultation survey is open now and runs until Friday 20 November 2026. The findings and feedback received will be published as part of the final corporate parenting plan in January 2027.