The Scottish Executive Education Department is responsible for administering policy on pre-school and school education, children and young people, tourism, culture and sport. It promotes a high quality education service for over 830,000 pupils in over 5,000 pre-school centres, primary and secondary schools and special schools and units.

The Department aims: (i) to ensure that every child or young person is able to develop to their fullest potential; (ii) to ensure all children have access to early learning and quality care; (iii) to promote social justice for children and young people; (iv) to raise standards and broaden achievement in education; (v) to modernise schools, strengthen leadership in schools and reward professionalism in teaching; (vi) to increase the success of Scotland's tourism industry; (vii) to broaden access to and involvement in the arts, culture and sport and enhance the contribution they make to Scotland's wellbeing; and (viii) to contribute to the physical environment through preserving Scotland's built heritage and promoting and encouraging better architecture

The Department produces an annual business delivery and improvement plan. This sets out the high level aims and objectives of the Department for the following year.

There are four main areas of responsibility, each managed by a member of the Departmental Management Board. The Department also oversees the activities of a number of executive agencies and Non Departmental Public Bodies (NDPBs):