SQA chief executive steps down from job ahead of new exams body being set up

The chief executive of Scotland’s exams body has quit her role, saying the “time is right” for her to move on.

Fiona Robertson announced her resignation from the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) – which is due to be replaced with a new body.

Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth insisted her departure would have “no impact” on SQA operations.

Ministers have previously said that Qualifications Scotland, the new body which will replace it is expected to be operational in the autumn of 2025.

Ms Robertson has been in post as SQA chief executive – Scotland’s chief examiner since July 2019 – remaining in the job after an outcry erupted when results were downgraded during the Covid pandemic.

The entire exam diet was cancelled for the first time ever in 2020 as a result of the virus, but pupils and parents were angered when some some of the grades awarded were reduced from the initial teacher estimates, leading to an apology from then first minister, Nicola Sturgeon.

Announcing her departure, Ms Robertson, who had previously worked as director of learning for the Scottish Government, said it had been a “great privilege to lead SQA over the last five years”.

She added: “I am greatly heartened by the breadth of achievement across Scotland, underpinned by the professionalism and passion of our educators and SQA staff.

“It is the right time to move on, professionally and personally, and I wish my colleagues every success as they continue to deliver and take forward work to establish Qualifications Scotland.”

SQA chair Shirley Rogers said she was “very grateful to Fiona Robertson for her leadership of SQA over the last five years and her wider contribution to the Scottish education system”.

Meanwhile, Ms Gilruth said the SQA chair would put interim arragements in place so Ms Robertson’s departure would have “no impact on the SQA’s operations”

The Education Secretary thanked Ms Robertson for her work, saying: “Fiona has been a tireless advocate for our education system in Scotland and I would like to thank her for her many years of public service.

“Fiona has led the SQA during a period of significant change, as we transition to a new body, Qualifications Scotland. I have appreciated her dedication to supporting Scottish learners throughout this time.

“I wish Fiona well for the future and I look forward to continuing our development of the new exam body, Qualifications Scotland, for the benefit of all of Scotland’s learners.”

A successor to Ms Robertson is expected to be appointed on an interim basis, before applications are sought for the post of chief executive of Qualifications Scotland.

However, Labour education spokeswoman Pam Duncan-Glancy insisted: “Swapping around the people at the top won’t be enough to fix the problems at the heart of the SQA.”

The MSP added: “The SQA has lost the trust of teachers and parents but the SNP government’s so-called reforms amount to nothing more than a rebranding exercise.”

Similarly, Scottish Conservative education spokesperson Miles Briggs said Ms Robertson’s departure was “just one small part of the reform Scotland’s qualifications authority urgently needs”.

Speaking about Ms Robertson Mr Briggs added: “While I wish her well in her future endeavours, her time at the SQA has been beset with a litany of failures and a refusal to take responsibility for them.

“From the recent Higher history scandal to the blunder that saw thousands of students sent blank certificates, Scotland’s students and teachers have been repeatedly failed by top bosses.

“They deserve to see a properly accountable body under new management but it seems SNP ministers don’t have the stomach to produce genuine reform.”

He added: “Scottish students and teachers deserve real leadership, improvements and transparency, not just another SNP cosmetic rebrand.”

Liberal Democrat education spokesperson Willie Rennie said: “For the new qualifications body to have a fresh start it was necessary for Fiona Robertson to move on.

“Of course, mistakes were made but I do want to thank her for her service. Careful thought needs to be given to what we want from the new head so that there is a healthy relationship with teachers and the wider education sector.”