Education and Gaelic Committee

1. Declaration of interests: Senga Beresford will be invited to declare any relevant interests. 2. Qualifications Scotland and His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education in Scotland (Miscellaneous Listings) Regulations 2026 – evidence: The Committee will take evidence from— Alyn Smith, Minister for Innovation, Technology and Tertiary Education and Sarah Hart, Qualifications Scotland Sponsorship Team, Scottish Government. Judith Brown, Solicitor, Scottish Government Legal Directorate. 3. Qualifications Scotland and His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education in Scotland (Miscellaneous Listings) Regulations 2026 – motion recommending approval: Alyn Smith (Minister for Innovation, Technology and Tertiary Education) to move— S7M-01925—That the Education and Gaelic Committee recommends that the Qualifications Scotland and His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education in Scotland (Miscellaneous Listings) Regulations 2026 [draft] be approved. 4. Apprenticeships – evidence: The Committee will take evidence from— James Withers, Director, JR Withers Advisory Ltd. Dr Janet Brown, RSE - Vice President Education, Royal Society of Edinburgh. Helyn Gould, Deputy Associate Principal for Education, Systems and Enhancement, University of Strathclyde. 5. Support for pupils with persistent absence – evidence: The Committee will take evidence from— Billy Anderson, Head of Services and Influencing, Children in Scotland. Gavin Yates, Executive Director, Connect. Lisa Weylandt, Senior Policy and Public Affairs Officer, Includem.