Thursday June 25th 2026
Photo by Redd Francisco
Written by Glasgow View Reporter, Liam Eunson
The Scottish Government’s intentions to reform post-school education and skills lack a clear delivery plan, a report from the Auditor General has explained.
Highlighting that progress is slow, the report explains that the government needs to make stronger links with its wider plans across economic transformation, climate change, education and skills, if they are to efficiently reform post-school development.
The post-school education and skills sector has a vital role in helping people achieve their ambitions and improve life chances, while helping meet the needs of a changing economy and society, but the sector faces significant financial and operational challenges.
The government’s Post-School Education and Skills Reform (PSESR) programme aims to create a simpler system, more responsive to Scotland’s economic and social needs. Auditor General’s repair further highlights that effective partnership working is critical in delivering this, yet there remain multiple risks to delivery, including: inadequate resourcing; weaknesses in governance arrangements and a need to still fully understand costs, impacts and outcomes.
Despite legislation passed in March 2026 to simplify the funding body landscape being a significant milestone in this reform, overall progress has been slow with a ‘general lack of direction, oversight and resourcing’, raising the risk that intended outcomes may not be achieved.
Auditor General for Scotland, Stephen Boyle, explained:
“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.”
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