‘Concerning gap’ between intent and progress in post-school education reform

Scotland’s Auditor General has said there is a “concerning gap” between intent and progress to deliver post-school education and skills reform.

A new report said the Scottish Government’s intentions for reform lack a clear delivery plan and progress is slow.

The report suggests ministers should in the next six months develop an overarching programme delivery plan and strengthen the leadership and governance of reforms.

Stephen Boyle, Auditor General for Scotland, said the Government needs to “better communicate” with those working across the sector.

He said: “There’s a concerning gap between intent, planning and progress to deliver post-school education and skills reform. A lack of clarity on outcomes, insufficient skills and resourcing, gaps in governance, and uncertainty over the costs and benefits must be addressed.

“Successful reform on this scale demands understanding and engagement with all those impacted. The Government needs to better communicate and work with learners, business and those working across the education and skills sector.”

Post-school education and skills provision covers learning and training through college, university, and apprenticeships.

The Scottish Government says it invests more than £3 billion in this sector each year, and the funding is currently delivered through three public bodies: Skills Development Scotland, the Scottish Funding Council, and the Student Awards Agency Scotland.

The Auditor General said the reform programme, which aims to create a simpler system, more responsive to Scotland’s economic and social needs, has multiple risks to delivery, including inadequate resourcing, weaknesses in governance arrangements, and a need to still fully understand costs, impacts and outcomes.

The report said legislation passed in March to simplify the funding body landscape is a significant milestone but overall progress has been slow.

It also highlighted that financial sustainability of the post-school system has been “increasingly volatile” in recent years.

It pointed to the Auditor General’s 2025 report which highlighted the college sector has faced “extremely difficult financial challenges”.

The 2026/27 Scottish budget provided a 10% increase in funding for the college sector, however this is in the context of a 20% real-terms reduction in funding for colleges between 2021/22 and 2025/26.

The Scottish Government has been approached for comment.