180.Paragraph 11 requires Qualifications Scotland to establish a Learner Interest Committee. The function of this committee is to advise the members and staff of Qualifications Scotland on the exercise of its functions from the point of view of those undertaking Qualifications Scotland qualifications.
181.The committee members may include only one member of Qualifications Scotland, and that member must have been appointed to Qualifications Scotland to satisfy paragraph 3(2)(a) (being a person who appears to the Scottish Ministers to have knowledge of the interests of persons undertaking a relevant qualification). If appointed as a member of the committee, that member must be appointed as co-convener of the committee, but is not entitled to vote at any meeting of the committee. Other than the one member of Qualifications Scotland appointed to the committee, there can be no other committee members who are members of Qualifications Scotland. Furthermore, members of staff of Qualifications Scotland cannot be appointed as committee members. The other persons appointed to the committee must consist of children and young people (as defined in sub-paragraph (11)) regardless of whether they are undertaking a Qualifications Scotland qualification, and other persons, who are undertaking, or have recent experience of undertaking, a Qualifications Scotland qualification. Qualifications Scotland must consult the Scottish Ministers before making an appointment to the committee. Qualifications Scotland must also, when appointing persons to the committee, seek to encourage equal opportunities and the observance of the equal opportunity requirements, and have regard to the desirability of appointing persons who have experience (whether current or historic) of being in the care system, are from a socio-economically disadvantaged background, or have educational support needs.
182.In the exercise of its functions, the committee must, in every case it considers appropriate to do so, consult with the Strategic Advisory Council, the Teacher and Practitioner Interest Committee, any other committee or sub-committee established by Qualifications Scotland, and such other persons as the committee considers appropriate. Qualifications Scotland members must meet with the committee where the committee reasonably requests it, or where Qualifications Scotland otherwise considers it appropriate to meet.
The Learner Interest Committee