Broad national policy for all aspects of education is laid down by the Scottish Government through the Cabinet Secretary for Education and skills, and the Directorates for Learning; Children and Families; Advanced Learning and Science; and Fair Work, Employability and Skills. Responsibility for organising and staffing provision within these broad policy guidelines falls as follows.

In the Early Childhood and Care, Primary Education and Secondary Education sectors local government councils are responsible. Local government councils also organise much community learning and development (CLD) in the Adult Education sector. They make their own decisions about the proportion of government funding and local taxation revenue they receive to devote to education.

Higher Education is the responsibility of autonomous universities and Higher Education Institutions funded through the Scottish Funding Council (SFC).

Adult Education other than CLD is provided in the form of vocational training by autonomous colleges (funded through SFC) and by private organisations or employers.