Privacy statement
Who we are and what we do
Qualifications Scotland is a public body, created under the Education (Scotland) Act 2025. It has two main roles, accrediting and awarding qualifications.
These roles are carried out by the two distinct parts of the organisation - Qualifications Scotland Accreditation and Qualifications Scotland the awarding body
As an accrediting body, Qualifications Scotland:
accredits qualifications; and
sets and maintains standards for many other awarding bodies.
As an awarding body, Qualifications Scotland:
creates, develops a framework of qualifications
makes sure these qualifications are well written and meet the needs of learners and educators
reviews qualifications to ensure they are up to date
arranges for, assists in, and carries out, the assessment of people taking Qualifications Scotland qualifications
quality-assures schools, colleges and training centres that offer Qualifications Scotland qualifications
issues certificates to candidates
We also offer a range of services to businesses and training providers and advise Scottish Government on matters related to our work.
This privacy statement explains how Qualifications Scotland collects and uses information about you to provide our services.
The information we collect about you and how we use it depends on the type of relationship we have with you - for example, if you are studying our qualifications or applying for a job with us.
We also collect information about you if you:
are involved in delivering our qualifications (or qualifications we accredit),
attend one of our events
are the parent or other relative of a candidate or a member of the public who has contacted us
are a supplier or you have used our website.
Further detail for each relationship and the above circumstances is set out below.
Contact information and further advice
If you have any questions about this privacy statement, the information we hold about you, or the way we use it, please contact us:
by email: data.protection@qualifications.gov.scot
in writing: Data Protection Team, Scottish Qualifications Authority, The Optima Building, 58 Robertson Street, Glasgow G2 8DQ, Scotland
Data Protection Officer: Ian Smail, Data Protection and Records Manager, 0345 213 5229
Changes to this privacy statement
We regularly review this privacy statement and may update it from time to time. When we update our privacy statement, we will put an updated version on our website and, if the changes are significant, will try our best to bring it to your attention.
This privacy statement was last updated on 1 February 2026.
Complaints
If you wish to make a complaint about how we use your information, please contact the Data Protection Officer using the contact details provided above.
We will try to resolve your complaint but if you are not satisfied with our response, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office:
Information Commissioner’s Office Wycliffe House Water Lane Wilmslow Cheshire SK9 5AF
Telephone: 0303 123 1113 (local rate)