SQA appoints Scottish Government director as new chief executive

Director of Learning in the Scottish Government Fiona Robertson has been appointed at the new boss of Scotland’s exams body the SQA.

She replaces Dr Janet Brown, who announced her retirement last year.

Robertson has been responsible for the development of Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) and the National Improvement Framework for Education in her government role, and will be expected to bring that expertise to the qualifications body.

Robertson said: “I am very pleased to be joining SQA which is so central to the education and training system in Scotland, and it is a great privilege to be its new chief executive.”

Relations between the SQA and teachers became strained after the swift introduction of new exams as part of the CfE.

Teachers had complained to Holyrood’s Education Committee about “excessive and unclear guidance, complex administration and mistakes in exam papers”.

Education secretary John Swinney congratulated Robertson on her appointment.

“Fiona is an outstanding public servant and will bring a broad range of experience and credibility in the education sector to the role,” he said.

“I look forward to continuing to work closely with Fiona and the SQA Board, to maintain our excellent qualifications and assessments system.”