School inspections are changing: shape what’s next: What is the purpose of school inspections?
The Education (Scotland) Bill received Royal Assent on 6th August 2025 and is now an act of the Scottish Parliament.
The legislation sets up the office holder of HM Chief Inspector of Education in Scotland. His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education will operate under the leadership of the Chief Inspector to take forward the independent inspection of education in Scotland.
The Education (Scotland) Act 2025 sets out the purposes of inspection:
- recognising effective practice adopted by relevant educational establishments,
- promoting improvement in the quality of education in Scotland, including by -
- supporting relevant educational establishments to improve by -
- identifying areas for improvement
- establishing where support may be required to make improvements
- sharing effective practice
- sharing evidence to inform the development of education policy
- supporting relevant educational establishments to improve by -
- providing assurance to the public that the quality of education provided in relevant educational establishments is being assessed and that establishments are being held to account accordingly.
Further details about the package of measures set out in legislation can be found in the Education (Scotland) Act 2025.
