A Parliamentary Question by Liz Smith MSP on access to SQA exams and qualifications for home educated young people, has been answered by education cabinet secretary John Swinney MSP.
To ask the Scottish Government what entitlement home-educated children have to access SQA qualifications through SQA-approved centres.
Answered by John Swinney (26/07/2017):
Every child has a right to an education and it is the duty of the parent of every school age child to provide that education, either by sending the child to school or by other means. This includes home education.
Home educated young people can access Scottish qualifications but must be registered with a Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) approved centre (usually a school or college), accepting that all assessments and assignments require to be appropriately carried out and monitored through an SQA approved centre. More information is available at www.sqa.org.uk.
The Scottish Government’s Home Education Guidance, accessible at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/12/17133313/0, sets out the legislative position and provides advice on the roles and responsibilities of local authorities and parents in relation to children who are home educated. Section 7.2 of the guidance provides more detailed information on the process surrounding assessment for home educated children.
Statutory responsibility for the delivery of education in Scotland sits with local authorities, which have considerable flexibility to support learning and make available resources for home educated young people.
