Attainment in National Progression Awards has more than doubled since 2022, prompting calls for more awareness about new qualifications.
Wednesday 23rd September 2026
A new briefing from The David Hume Institute shows a significant shift in how learners in Scotland build practical work-ready skills alongside traditional exams.
The paper, “The Changing Landscape of Education in Scotland: A New National Progression?” reveals that attainment of National Progression Awards (NPAs) - qualifications typically assessed continuously throughout the year rather than in a final high stakes exam, has more than doubled from 19,640 in 2022 to 44,0303 in 2026.
NPAs now span more than 267 subject areas including cyber security, data science, sports leadership and health care. They are increasingly being delivered in-house by secondary schools across Scotland to broaden choices and learning in the senior phase.
Source: The David Hume Institute from Qualifications Scotland Attainment Statistics 2026
This growth reflects the recommendations of the Hayward Review which was commissioned by the Scottish Government and published in 2023. The trend mirrors that in other countries highlighted in the OECD’s 2026 report, A Skills First Labour Market which calls on education systems across the globe to focus on practical, transferable skills that directly support employability and economic opportunity.
The new briefing identifies curriculum flexibility, the growing relevance of practical and job-ready skills, and increased delivery of NPAs directly within secondary schools as factors behind their growth.
The briefing also highlights challenges accompanying the expansion of NPAs. Access to particular subjects varies across Scotland, while employers and recruiters will need to understand an increasingly diverse qualifications landscape. Schools and colleges are using approaches such as cluster-school provision, college partnerships and online tutoring to broaden access.
The growth of National Progression Awards is highly relevant to the upcoming Milburn Review publication because it shows that changes to how young people develop skills, are assessed and connected to future jobs are already underway in Scotland.
