The Commissioner for Fair Access, Professor John McKendrick, has published his latest independent report, Progress as a precursor to a pivot: fair access in Scotland in 2026 and beyond. The seventh annual report by the Commissioner argues that Scotland is at a “pivot point”, where existing approaches will not be sufficient to meet future targets without systemic change.

Commenting on the report, Andy Witty, Director of Strategic Policy and Corporate Governance. said: “This is a valuable and timely analysis of the progress made so far as we continue working towards fair access across the tertiary sector. For colleges, the recommendation to introduce a single student identifier is welcome, as it would strengthen pathways for lifelong learning and improve the offer for shorter focused courses for industry.

“The report also highlights the significant impact that the cost of living crisis is having on students. We continue to make the case for increased student support funding to help ensure that financial pressures do not limit access to college education.”