What involvement it had in the SQA's approach to the exams appeals process in 2024.

Operational delivery of National Qualifications is a matter for the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) as the awarding body for Scotland. As a Non-Departmental Public Body, SQA operates at arm’s length to ministers and is responsible for its own operational decisions, including appeals processes.The approach to National Qualification appeals in 2024 is the same as last year and is the same approach that, discounting the pandemic years, has been in place since 2014 in Scotland. It is comparable with other appeals services in the rest of the UK and internationally – but with free and direct access for learners.SQA’s decision to revert to an enhanced version of the established appeals approach in 2023 was informed by an extensive evaluation of the 2022 approach, and engagement with the National Qualifications Group, of which Scottish Government was part, as well as a wide range of stakeholders
- including teachers, parents and young people. Decisions in 2024 were, similarly, informed by evaluation of the 2023 awarding arrangements.Drawing on the views of stakeholders, the SQA (and Qualifications Scotland once formed) will continue to evaluate the awarding processes to inform decisions going forward.