Legislation that will set up Scotland’s new exams body needs “substantial amendment” to ensure the improvements ministers want to see are brought about, MSPs have insisted.

Members of the Scottish Parliament’s Education Committee said they backed the general principles of the Bill that will replace the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) with a new body called Qualifications Scotland.

But with this new organisation having the same functions as the SQA, the committee heard concerns the it could result in a “mere re-packaging” of the existing body.

MSPs on the Education, Children and Young People Committee have now challenged the Scottish Government to set out “how it will ensure that Qualifications Scotland will operate differently from the SQA”.

As the report was published, committee convener Douglas Ross made clear “substantial changes” are still required to the Education (Scotland) Bill – which also establishes the office of His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education in Scotland, setting out for the first time the detailed role and function of education inspectors in legislation.

Mr Ross said: “The committee recognises the need for a qualifications body and an independent inspectorate that holds the confidence and trust of learners, parents and carers, and teaching professionals.

“While these long-awaited reforms could help to deliver bodies that hold this confidence, substantial changes are still required to ensure the Scottish Government’s approach succeeds.”

He continued: “In particular, we want the Scottish Government to take steps that will help rebuild public trust in the bodies that oversee education in Scotland, ensuring that there is strong accountability for these new bodies from the start.”

The committee report accepted that legislation alone “can not change culture”, with the MSPs saying this requires “leadership, a change to ways of working and a commitment to do things differently”

And while the committee backed the replacement of SQA and the creation of an independent inspectorate, the MSPs said they did “not yet have sufficient information on wider education reform”.

Their report added that committee “believes the Bill will require substantial amendment to ensure that the improvements envisaged by the Scottish Government in relation to engagement, governance, organisational culture and accountability, become a reality for learners, teachers and staff”.

Scottish Conservative shadow cabinet secretary for education and skills Miles Briggs said: “This damning report from the education committee makes it clear they think the SNP’s current plans to replace the SQA deliver no change at all.

“The SQA’s reputation is rightly tarnished among parents, pupils and teachers, yet the SNP are risking making the same mistakes with their new body.

“If SNP ministers are serious about restoring Scotland’s once world-leading education reputation, then they must change their current approach.

“The need for a credible qualifications body is abundantly clear after the monumental failures by the SQA over the years, but it appears ministers simply cannot be bothered to do the work required.

“They must reflect on the committee’s critical conclusions and come back with meaningful plans that will deliver the changes Scottish education desperately needs.”

Scottish Labour Education spokesperson Pam Duncan-Glancy said “Our education system desperately needs reform, but the SNP is in complete denial about the scale of reform needed.

“This stark report from the education committee highlights how far short the SNP reform falls, and that there are major shortcomings in the current version of the bill. The SNP government must heed these warnings and change direction.

“A shallow rebrand is not good enough to rebuild trust in our education system - we need genuine reform.

“Scottish Labour will work constructively to strengthen this Bill so it delivers a genuine change in direction and builds the education system pupils, parents, and teachers deserve.”