Attainment at Highland schools is improving, shaped by strategic changes and a targeted plan of action.
Yesterday (Wednesday 25 February) Highland Council’s education committee discussed the latest attainment update, which showed the progress being made in meeting the crucial targets of raising attainment and reducing the poverty related attainment gap.
Some key findings, based on Achievement of Curriculum for Excellence Levels (ACEL) in literacy and numeracy, were highlighted:
- Attainment at fourth level literacy for S3 pupils has increased by 10 per cent over the last two years and is currently at 61 per cent.
- 91 per cent of pupils and above are achieving level three numeracy and 88 per cent or above are achieving level three literacy by the end of S3.
- Attainment for S3 pupils at fourth level has increased by six per cent over the last three years.
- Attainment in Gaelic literacy has increased by 13 per cent since 2021 and has now surpassed the national average.
- Highland literacy for Primary 1, 4 and 7 stages has steadily improved, rising by 20 per cent since 2021.
- Highland numeracy attainment for primary combined stages of P1, P4 and P7 has increased by 14 per cent since 2021.
- For primary stage pupils living in Highland’s most deprived areas attainment has increased by 28 per cent in literacy and 19 per cent in numeracy since 2021.
- The poverty related attainment gap is narrowing – at primary age by 10 per cent in literacy and by seven per cent in numeracy.
Chair of Highland Council’s education committee, Cllr John Finlayson, said: “Highland Council is committed to improving attainment and achievement at all stages, and through strategic initiatives developed in collaboration with school staff, the statistics are highlighting continued progress.
“The report shows positive outcomes for young people and our focus will be to continue to improve further.
“I commend the officers in our education team, and the teaching and support staff all across all our vast network of schools for their efforts and hard work to establish and embed the changes which are helping to deliver improvement.”
Restructure to support progress
A restructure of education and learning in Highland placed a strong focus on quality improvement.
Area Quality Improvement Managers, supported by other Council Officers, were appointed to support and challenge schools.
A robust Raising Attainment and Achievement Strategy and associated Education and Learning Improvement Plan is supporting continuous improvement across all schools.
Four areas were identified for focused improvement activity – Leadership; Learning & Teaching; Curriculum; Data.
Raised attainment and achievement is further supported via a suite of professional learning opportunities, including:
- Workshops and individualised support for head teachers
- Assessment and Moderation guidance.
- Participation in the National Improving Writing Programme
- Engagement with Education Scotland to provide access to whole school numeracy support.
- Engagement with the National Improving Attendance Quality Improvement Programme.
All actions to improve attainment are augmented by partnership work with Education Scotland and wider organisations.
The full reports can be found here https://www.highland.gov.uk/meetings/meeting/5305/education-committee