Qualifications Scotland welcomes feedback on new Learner and Teacher and Practitioner Charters

The Charters set out what learners, teachers and practitioners should expect from Qualifications Scotland.

The Charters will:

• promote transparency and trust, clearly setting out what learners, teachers and practitioners can expect from Qualifications Scotland

• enhance accountability by establishing clear commitments and standards, with Qualifications Scotland's Board overseeing delivery and reporting annually on performance to the Scottish Government and Scottish Parliament

• strengthen stakeholder relationships by setting out the mutual expectations and responsibilities of all parties

Share your feedback on the Charters

The first drafts are now open for feedback until Wednesday 18 November, and Qualifications Scotland is asking anyone with an interest, including learners, teachers, practitioners, parents, carers and employers, to give their views through a short survey.

Work on the Charters began in June, when the newly formed Learner Interest Committee and the Teacher and Practitioner Interest Committee helped identify what they expected to see and how best to engage with wider audiences. In August, Qualifications Scotland surveyed learners, parents, carers and educators, with this feedback shaping the first drafts of the Charters.

Both Charters set out commitments on fairness and consistency, including maintaining clear national standards, training and quality-assuring those who assess and check qualifications, and investigating any malpractice fairly and impartially.

They also commit Qualifications Scotland to clear, timely communication, and to giving learners, teachers and practitioners regular, meaningful opportunities to help shape qualifications and assessments, with an explanation of how their feedback has informed decisions.

Nick Page, Chief Executive of Qualifications Scotland, said: “These charters are a real opportunity to help build lasting trust and credibility with the people our qualifications are designed for. We've worked closely with our committees, but we want to hear from as many learners, teachers, practitioners and any other interested parties as possible.

“Tell us if there's anything missing, anything that shouldn't be there and what you would like us to include and highlight. Your feedback will help shape the final versions and allow these charters to reflect and be relevant for what matters most to learners and education professionals across the country. Our committees are clear that they want the charters to be live, attributable and to make a difference.”

Following further engagement, workshops, and feedback, the final Charters will be published in March. They are intended to evolve over time in response to feedback and the changing education and skills landscape, so they remain relevant and responsive to the needs of learners, teachers and practitioners.