The FDA has expressed concerns over job security, pay and a long hours culture to the Scottish Parliament, regarding the creation of a new education body in Scotland. The union gave written and oral evidence over the new Education (Scotland) Bill, which aims to replace the current Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) with a new body, Qualifications Scotland.

FDA Education Scotland Convenor Ken McAra told MSPs of the Education, Children and Young People Committee that the uncertainty around the future of members’ jobs relating to these changes has been “very difficult”, adding that “for three and a half years there has been very little information despite asking for it… and we’ve got another year or so before things conclude, all while getting on with the day job”.

McAra also referred to a lack of political engagement exacerbating the uncertainty, stating that “during the beginning of the reform period meetings were regular, now we haven’t had one for more than a year. It’s difficult to understand why this is.”

The FDA Education Scotland Convenor also spoke of his concerns around pay and a long hours culture: “How flexible and widespread inspections can be will depend in how inspections are funded, and depend on what we have by way of a workforce”.

The FDA’s written evidence to the committee, submitted in September, outlined “significant, unresolved issues around different aspects of terms and conditions for HM Inspectors” referring to HM Inspectors working significantly longer than their contracted working hours, as well as having to subsidy their own meals due to poor allowance rates.

The union’s written evidence also outlined that pay for HMIs has fallen far behind that of head teachers, which will inevitably have an impact on the ability to recruit qualified people.

Want to know more? Read the FDA’s evidence and view the full evidence session via Scottish Parliament.