The creation of the Agency was announced by Scottish Government Education and Lifelong Learning Cabinet Minister Michael Russell on 14 October 2010.

[5] It was intended to bring together the work and responsibilities of Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education and Learning and Teaching Scotland and was originally entitled the Scottish Education Quality and Improvement Agency (SEQIA).

[6] On establishment Education Scotland also incorporated the Scottish Government Positive Behaviour Team, which aims to support Scottish schools and local authorities to introduce and embed approaches that promote positive relationships and behaviour, and the National CPD Team, which aims to provide strategic support for continuing professional development (CPD) and professional review throughout Scottish education.

In August 2023, a joint statement from Education Scotland and the Care Inspectorate confirmed that both bodies were commencing work to begin a "shared inspection framework".

[11] The proposed joint working agreement between Education Scotland and the Care Inspectorate aim to " maintain high levels of efficiency and effectiveness and to streamline the paperwork requested from providers".