A New Chapter for Scottish Education: Qualifications Scotland Starts Today
- Kimberley Ross
- Dec 2, 2025
- 5 min read
Today marks a pretty significant moment in Scottish education history. Today, Monday, December 2nd 2025, is the first day that Qualifications Scotland officially becomes a legal entity, replacing the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) that's been part of every Scottish pupil's life since 1997. They have followed me through my entire secondary school education AND teaching career so far!
If you're sitting exams this year, you might be wondering: "Wait, what does this actually mean for ME?" Don't worry - I've got you covered with everything you need to know!
What's Actually Changing?
Firstly, don't panic: your exams this school year are going ahead exactly as planned. The 2025/2026 exam diet starts on Friday 25th April and finishes on Monday 2nd June, with Results Day on Tuesday 5th August. Chemistry exams? They're all happening as scheduled in the timetable you've already got. Thei stucture of the exams won't be changing this year either, and neither will your assignments or projects.
Think of this transition like when a band changes its name but keeps all the same members - the people who create your qualifications and run your exams are still the same dedicated professionals, they're just working under a new organisation with a fresh approach.
Qualifications Scotland won't become fully operational until 1st February 2026, so for everyone sitting National 5s, Highers, or Advanced Highers this academic year, it's business as usual.
Why is it Changing?
The Scottish Government decided to create Qualifications Scotland following extensive reviews of the education system to give an opportunity to reset relationships with students and teachers, and create an organisation that puts learners at the heart of decision-making. You could say the COVID-19 pandemic sparked it all, but it may have ended up happening anyway.
Here's what's some of the new changes might be and how they might effect you as a student:
1. Less Reliance on High-Stakes Exams
The new body is committed to reducing dependence on those nerve-wracking final exams and increasing the use of continuous assessment. This means your chemistry knowledge might be assessed in more varied and less stressful ways in future years (although sometimes these things like assignments look like they are less stressful on paper but in reality... IYKYK).
2. Better Use of Technology
As someone who absolutely loves using technology in education, I am excited to see where this could go! Qualifications Scotland say they are aiming to streamline services and make them more accessible through digital platforms. This could mean easy to access to materials, clearer information, and better support systems.
3. Qualifications That Keep Pace with the Real World
The new organisation is focused on making sure qualifications actually reflect what's happening in society and the economy. For chemistry students, this could mean a revamp of the course content to include more 'new age' chemistry and hopefully better connections between what you learn and how it's used in actual careers.
4. More Student and Teacher Input
If done well this could be really good for both students and teachers. The new governance structure includes Interest Committees specifically for learners and for teachers. This means YOUR voice and your teachers' voices will directly shape decisions about qualifications. (Here's hoping they listen!).
When are the Changes Coming to Courses?
While 2025 exams remain unchanged, it's worth understanding the longer-term reforms that Qualifications Scotland will oversee. Here's the proposed timeline of what's ahead:
2026: First Assessment Changes Begin
Assessment rebalancing starts in the first subjects from 2026, with greater use of internal and continuous assessment contributing to a larger percentage of final grades. Exams won't disappear, but they'll matter slightly less than they do now.
2027-2028: New Curriculum Framework
The revised curriculum guidance will be published in 2027 and implemented from August 2028 for S1-S3, then from August 2029 for S4-S6. This evolved curriculum will focus on making learning more engaging and relevant to the real world.
2031-2032: Brand New Qualifications
Reformed qualifications will arrive at National 4 and 5 level in 2031, followed by new Higher and Advanced Higher qualifications in 2032. These will be designed from the ground up to align with the new curriculum.
What This Means for Your Chemistry Journey
If you're currently working towards your National 5, Higher, or Advanced Higher Chemistry exams in 2026, here's what you need to focus on:
Keep Doing What You're Doing
Your course content hasn't changed. The exam format hasn't changed. Your revision strategy shouldn't change. If you've been following The Chemistry Academy resources and building your understanding of chemistry concepts (rather than just memorising), you're on exactly the right track.
Don't Stress About the Transition
I know change can feel unsettling, especially when you're in the middle of preparing for important exams. But honestly? This transition is happening around you, not to you. The people assessing your work are the same professionals who've always done it, and most of you will have left school by the time any of the bigger changes have been made.
If You're in S1-S3 Right Now
You're actually in the perfect position! You'll hopefully benefit from the refreshed curriculum when it arrives in 2028, and by the time you're sitting your National 4/5 or Higher subjects the new qualifications system should be almost fully developed. The shift towards continuous assessment should reduce some of that high-stakes exam pressure, however this might not happen until after you have left school too.
What Now?
For everyone sitting exams this year, it's business as usual.
So here's what you need to do to prepare for your exams in 2026:
Check your exam timetable - Make sure you know exactly when your chemistry exams are scheduled
Keep up with your revision plan - Don't let news about organisational changes distract you from your prep
Focus on understanding - Build those strong foundations in chemistry that will serve you whatever format assessments take in the future
Ask questions if you're worried - Speak to your teachers, or reach out to me if you've got concerns about what this means for you
As they say, "Keep Calm and Carry On!"
Better plan and track your studies with our FREE Study Planner and Tracker Spreadsheet
References Used and Further Reading
1. Scottish Government (2025). Update on transition from SQA to Qualifications Scotland - October 2025. Available at: https://www.swqr.org.uk/SWQR/news/SWQR_Closed_Monday_6th_October_2025
2. Scottish Government (2025). Curriculum, Qualifications and Assessment Reform: progress to date and next steps. Published June 2025. Available at: https://www.gov.scot/publications/curriculum-qualifications-assessment-reform-progress-date-next-steps/
3. Scottish Government (2025). Education reform - Schools. Available at: https://www.gov.scot/policies/schools/education-reform/
4. Scottish Government (2024). Reform of qualifications and assessment. Published September 2024. Available at: https://www.gov.scot/news/reform-of-qualifications-and-assessment/
5. Scottish Qualifications Authority (2025). Roadmap to Qualifications Scotland unveiled, pledging to reset relationships with learners and teachers. Available at: https://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/112288.html
6. Scottish Qualifications Authority (2025). A Prospectus for Change - SQA Corporate Plan. Available at: https://www.sqa.org.uk/
7. TES Magazine (2025). Scottish reform timeline sets target dates for new qualifications. Published June 2025. Available at: https://www.tes.com/magazine/news/general/scottish-education-reform-timeline-published-date-for-new-qualifications
9. Scottish Government (2025). Education (Scotland) Act 2025. Passed by Scottish Parliament June 2025.
10. Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework Partnership. Available at: https://scqf.org.uk/
Note: This blog post was written on December 2, 2025, the day Qualifications Scotland became a legal entity. Information is accurate as of this date, but reforms are ongoing. Always check the official Scottish Government and Qualifications Scotland websites for the most up-to-date information.
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