The Scottish government’s education reform process has hit another roadblock. Tes Scotland can reveal that a second attempt to appoint to two key roles has resulted in failure: the identities of who will lead Education Scotland and the inspectorate are still unknown.
Now the government is saying that the roles will not be readvertised until the has made its way through the Scottish Parliament - a process that education secretary Jenny Gilruth recently warned is likely to be delayed because of the changes being sought to the legislation.
Last year the roles of chief inspector and chief executive of Education Scotland were advertised for the first time, but failed to attract enough candidates for interviews to be held.
The roles were then advertised again with a closing date for applications of early February 2025.
Scottish education reforms
Tes Scotland understands that three candidates were interviewed for the post of chief inspector of education and four were interviewed for chief executive of Education Scotland, including Janie McManus and Gillian Hamilton, who, respectively, are leading the bodies on an interim basis. However, no candidate has been appointed.
The news comes on the day that applications close for another big job in Scottish education: chief executive of the Scottish Qualifications Authority, which is also undergoing reform. The role is currently held by John Booth on an interim basis.
The Scottish government first announced that the SQA would be replaced and Education Scotland reformed almost four years ago, in June 2021.
Ultimately, it was decided three new organisations would be created: a qualifications body, an education agency and a new independent inspectorate.
The failure to recruit to the chief inspector and Education Scotland roles represents another setback for the Scottish government’s education-reform programme, which has already been affected by controversy and delay.
Initially, a delivery date was set for 2024 but that was delayed a year by Ms Gilruth after she became education secretary in 2023.
Earlier this month Tes Scotland revealed that the new timescale for delivery - as well as funding - were described as “challenges” by the board tasked with overseeing the changes.
It then emerged last week that over 350 amendments had been lodged in relation to the education bill that will deliver the new Qualifications Scotland body and independent inspectorate - with one of the most contested issues being the government’s decision to allow Qualifications Scotland to both award and regulate qualifications.
Last week Ms Gilruth warned that looking for alternatives would “delay education reform”, but, given that the SNP forms a minority government, it has little choice but to work with opposition parties.
Impact on the process
Now, in light of the repeated failure to recruit to two key roles, there are fears about the reform process being spearheaded by leaders who are not thought suitable to take on the roles on a permanent basis.
Salary has also been raised as an issue when it comes to attracting candidates. The Education Scotland chief executive and chief inspector roles were advertised as commanding salaries of between £115,000 and £117,329 a year, but education directors, for example, take home higher salaries than this.
Douglas Hutchison is Glasgow’s director of education and his salary is just over £170,000. A headteacher in Scotland at the top of the pay scale, meanwhile, can earn £115,539.
The chief inspector of education and training in Wales earns £150,000 to £155,000, according to the body’s .
Scotland’s largest teaching union, the EIS, said it was “concerning” that the government had failed to appoint, especially given the importance ascribed to “culture change” in education reform.
“It is vital that two of our national agencies have certainty and stability in their leadership,” a spokesperson said.
A Scottish government spokesperson said: “The current passage of the Education (Scotland) Bill through the Scottish Parliament has emphasised the importance of transformational leadership across our national educational bodies.
“In order to ensure that the right leaders are appointed for these roles, a further appointment round for the chief executive of Education Scotland and [chief Inspector] - using revised criteria - will be progressed following passage of the bill.”
The spokesperson added: “In the meantime, the important work underway to transition to the new inspectorate and to refocus Education Scotland will continue, with the existing leadership arrangements continuing during this important period.”
The salary range for the SQA chief executive is advertised as £126,000 to £143,000. A talks up “an opportunity to lead a vital national organisation and make a lasting impact on Scotland’s education system”.
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