Scotland’s new national qualifications body will include direct representation from Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire, following the appointment of a local head teacher and a senior figure from the University of the West of Scotland to its inaugural board.
The Scottish Government has confirmed the chair and members of the first board of Qualifications Scotland, the organisation replacing the Scottish Qualifications Authority under the Education (Scotland) Act 2025.
Among those appointed is Gerry O’Neill, Head Teacher at St Ninian’s High School, giving schools in the area a direct voice in the oversight and strategic direction of Scotland’s new awarding and accreditation body.
Renfrewshire is also represented through Kirsty Berchtenbreiter, Director of People and Wellbeing at the University of the West of Scotland, which has its main campus in Paisley. Her appointment links the new body to higher education and the regional workforce pipeline.
Qualifications Scotland has been designed to work differently from the SQA, with a greater focus on engaging learners and educators and placing them at the heart of decision-making. The new board will oversee that approach as the organisation takes on responsibility for national qualifications and accreditation.
The newly appointed members will join several former SQA board members who have transferred to the new organisation to serve the remainder of their existing terms.
Chair Shirley Rogers said: “I welcome the appointment of our new board members. Their hands-on experience of delivering qualifications, their experience of achieving qualifications and their understanding of the importance of qualifications in providing Scotland with the skilled workforce it needs will be invaluable. This breadth of representation will help us align with the needs and expectations of those we serve.”