Scotland significantly outperforms OECD average in four areas – but falls behind England
Scotland performed significantly above the OECD average in science, reading, computational problem-solving and environmental science, according to the latest international assessment of 15-year-olds’ knowledge and skills.
The 2025 PISA study found that Scotland has held a competitive international position, as reading and maths have declined across the OECD as a whole. Scotland’s maths performance was similar to the OECD average and similar to the 2022 survey.
The PISA 2025 Scotland Report also found:
the relationship between pupils’ socio-economic background and performance was weaker than in 2022 in science and maths, and significantly weaker in reading than in every previous PISA cycle
young people have a positive attitude to school and feel they belong there, with 90% saying their science teacher helped them in every or most lessons, and gave extra help when needed
Scotland’s overall performance was stable, while many other countries saw decline
Education Secretary Màiri McAllan said: “PISA 2025 shows real strengths in Scottish education, as well as areas we’re already working to improve. The Curriculum Improvement Cycle is the largest change to Scotland’s curriculum in over ten years, which will be fully rolled out with the teaching profession by August 2028.
“These results demonstrate that Scotland’s education system is competitive by international standards, performing above the OECD average on four measures out of five. Scotland has stabilised its international performance, which is very welcome, alongside the significant weakening in the relationship between learners’ socio-economic background and performance, particularly in reading.
“This comes just weeks after this year’s Qualifications Scotland results, which showed a narrowing of the poverty-related attainment gap compared to both 2025 and pre-pandemic 2019, and increased pass rates at National 5, Highers and Advanced Highers.
“While recognising the positives, these results also underline the need for change in certain areas – change that I intend to lead in the coming period to ensure excellence and equity for all Scotland’s young people.”
Millions wrongly believe they have ‘nothing worth leaving’
A solid majority of adults in Edinburgh risk leaving loved ones without clear instructions about their final wishes, new research has revealed.
A new poll commissioned by charity Will-writing campaign Will Aid has found 63% of adults in Edinburgh either do not have a Will or admit the one they have is out of date.
The research, released to mark the opening of appointments for the Will Aid 2026 campaign, found 57% of people in the city have never made a Will, while a further 6% admit their existing Will no longer reflects their current circumstances or wishes.
Nationally, the picture is similarly concerning, with 67% of UK adults either without a Will or with one that is out of date – 57% have never made one and 10% admit theirs is no longer up to date.
And despite the potential consequences for the people they leave behind, 44% of UK adults say they are unlikely to write a Will within the next year.
Will Aid is warning that misconceptions about who needs a Will could be leaving millions of families unnecessarily exposed.
Peter de Vena Franks, Campaign Director at Will Aid, said: “The fact that 63% of people in Edinburgh either don’t have a Will or have one which is no longer up to date should concern all of us.
“A Will is about far more than the value of the money or property you leave behind. It is about making your wishes clear, protecting the people you care about and making incredibly difficult decisions easier for those you love at what will already be a distressing time.
“You may have children whose future you want to protect, possessions with enormous sentimental value, pets you want cared for or very clear wishes about who should – and should not – benefit from your estate.
“Without a valid Will, you lose the opportunity to make many of those decisions yourself.”
The national research revealed that one of the biggest barriers to making a Will is the belief that people simply do not have enough to leave behind.
Of the 1,151 UK respondents surveyed who had not made a Will, the most common reason – cited by 29% – was the belief that they did not have anything worth leaving.
Cost and simply not finding the time were each cited by 19%, while 18% said they felt uncomfortable thinking about death and 14% were put off by the perceived complexity of the process.
Peter added: “Perhaps one of the most striking findings from our national research is that almost three in ten people without a Will believe they simply don’t have anything worth leaving.
“But Wills are not just for people with substantial wealth or property. They are about giving you a say in what happens after you die and making your wishes clear for the people you leave behind.
“We want people to recognise that making a Will is relevant to them, whatever their circumstances.”
The national research also revealed some of the life events that finally prompt people to act.
Among 857 respondents who had made a Will, 23% said they wanted the reassurance of knowing their children would be looked after if they died, while the same proportion said having children had prompted them to make one.
More than one in five (22%) said hearing stories about people who had died without a Will encouraged them to act, while 18% made theirs after buying a house.
Will Aid is also urging people in Edinburgh who already have a Will not to assume the job is finished.
With 6% of local respondents admitting their Will is out of date, the campaign is reminding people that a document written years ago may no longer reflect their family, relationships, assets or wishes, particularly following significant life changes.
Peter said: “Making a Will is not something you should do once and then forget about for the rest of your life.
“Families change. Relationships change. People marry, separate and divorce. Children and grandchildren are born. People buy homes, build businesses and acquire assets. Sadly, people we intended to include in our Wills can also die before us.
“If you know your Will no longer reflects what you want to happen, it is important not to keep putting off reviewing it.
“There may never feel like a perfect time to think about death, but making or updating a Will is ultimately about looking after the people you leave behind.”
The findings have been released as Will Aid 2026 opens for appointments, giving people in Edinburgh and across the UK the opportunity to have a basic Will professionally prepared by a participating solicitor while supporting good causes.
Every November, participating solicitors volunteer their time and waive their usual fee for writing a basic Will. Instead, clients are invited to make a voluntary donation to Will Aid, with the money raised supporting the campaign’s charity partners.
Since it was founded, the campaign has brought together the legal profession and some of the UK’s best-known charities, helping people put their affairs in order while raising millions of pounds for vital charitable work.
Donna Imrie, Partner at Rollos Law, said: “One of the biggest misconceptions we hear is that Wills are only for people who are wealthy or own significant assets.
“That simply isn’t the case. A professionally drafted Will gives you control over what happens after your death and allows you to make your wishes clear rather than leaving important decisions to chance.
“It is particularly important for parents and for people whose family circumstances may not be straightforward.
“We would also encourage anyone in Edinburgh who already has a Will to think about when they last looked at it. If your life has changed significantly since it was written, your Will may need to change too.
“Will Aid is an opportunity to sit down with a professional solicitor, talk through your circumstances and make sure your wishes are properly recorded – while at the same time helping charities carrying out extraordinary work in the UK and around the world.”
Appointments for Will Aid 2026 are now open and can be made with a participating firm either in person, where available, or remotely.
To find a participating Will Aid solicitor and book an appointment, or for more information about Will Aid, visit willaid.org.uk
Edinburgh Leisure has released it’s latest Impact Report.
Edinburgh Leisure Chief Executive Jen Holland said: “I am delighted to share Edinburgh Leisure’s Impact Report for 2025–26, a story of progress, resilience and people working together to help Edinburgh be active and well.
“This year’s report marks an important turning point, with stronger financial foundations, growing participation and continued investment in places and programmes that help more people feel active, included and connected.
“From expanding health and wellbeing programmes such as Balanced Life, to widening access through community facilities, subsidised provision and inclusive opportunities for people facing barriers, our work continues to support a healthier, happier and more active Edinburgh for everyone.
“One of this year’s Victorian Pool Crawl participants, Eileen Ingram, summed up that purpose when she told us: “I think it’s important for everyone, regardless of wealth, health or age, to be able to have access to facilities to enable them to live an active life. Regular exercise is really important for improving all aspects of our life.”
“Thank you for your ongoing support and partnership.
“I hope you enjoy reading the report and celebrating what we continue to achieve together for Edinburgh and its people.”
Former high profile MSPs told the think tank in a series of “exit interviews” that the parliament is not living up to its consensus-building potential, contributing to key targets being missed.
It is not just the public who are deeply frustrated and disillusioned with the way politics and policymaking are working in Holyrood, new research from IPPR Scotland has found.
MSPs themselves have been feeling the same malaise, with a record number of them having chosen not to stand for re-election at this year’s Scottish parliamentary election.
In a series of detailed “exit interviews”, MSPs from across the political spectrum – including former backbenchers and senior cabinet figures – told researchers that the parliament has been underperforming. The findings come at a time of declining trust in politics and growing frustration with the way democratic institutions function. Voter turnout fell dramatically at the 2026 election and various polls showed voters felt Scotland was headed in the wrong direction.
The Scottish parliament was designed to bring competing ideas together to find productive compromise. But interviewees described a shift towards shallow partisanship, with MSPs increasingly falling back on party lines and formulaic debates where politicians speak past each other.
This disconnect between the parliament’s consensus-building design and adversarial politics undermines the quality of scrutiny and legislation.
The problems show up in the way parliamentary committees operate. When the parliament was set up in 1999, committees were imagined as spaces for sustained, collaborative discussions, allowing MSPs the time to develop subject expertise and contribute meaningfully to policy matters.
But interviewees said members pay little attention to one another, and serious engagement with the substance of issues is all too rare.
Researchers found that:
Short committee tenures are limiting the development of expertise. The median time MSPs serve on committees has hovered around one-and-a-half to two years, compared with five-year parliamentary terms. This restricts their ability to develop the kind of subject expertise that longer tenure would provide.
Instead of interactive discussions, MSPs increasingly resort to monologues. In the first parliamentary session, a committee member spoke an average of 117 words before another member spoke. By the sixth session, this had doubled to 232 words.
This affects the process of legislation making. Committees were intended to scrutinise legislation in detail, drawing on members’ expertise, expert witnesses and detailed evidence. But MSPs said debate has shifted to the final stages of legislation with poorly thought through amendments introduced at the last minute.
The researchers’ analysis of parliamentary data backs this up. In the first session (1999-2003), final-stage debates were about half as long as committee discussions. By the sixth, (2021-2026) the pattern had reversed, with final debates longer than committee stages.
IPPR Scotland has argued that the parliament needs to strengthen its consensus-building mechanisms, both to build trust with the electorate and because the challenges the country faces need long-term policies with widespread buy-in.
The think tank recommends that reforms to parliament be designed by a new Citizens’ Commission on Scotland’s Democracy, giving citizens a formal role in reviewing and reporting on the functioning of Scottish democracy through citizens’ assemblies and juries.
Dave Hawkey, senior research fellow at IPPR Scotland, said: “Scotland faces formidable challenges, from cutting emissions and mitigating the impacts of climate crisis to managing the ageing population and reducing inequality.
“Solving each of these will need bold and far-reaching policy, including ideas from every corner of Scottish society.
“Low trust in politics is a major barrier to building the consensus we need to successfully guide Scotland through these changing times. Concretely, if citizens lack trust in politics, they will not agree to pay the taxes we need to fix our shared problems.”
Anonymous MSP1 said:“If you go as a minister to be interrogated by the opposition or backbenchers, the greatest disappointment is always how rubbish their questions are because they’re all sitting on their phones, you get to their shot, they ask a pre-prepared question.
“It’s either political or general most of the time. And then they go back to scrolling on Twitter.”
Anonymous MSP2 said:“You have legislation that grows arms and bells and whistles. [During recent debates] I was thinking: I cannot believe we’re actually accepting or agreeing to this amendment that, in one line, will give somebody a headline but will cause a huge tail end of policy issues.”
POLICE are appealing for information following a fatal hit-and-run crash on the A8 Glasgow Road, near Newbridge yesterday (Monday, 7 September, 2026).
Around 9.25am, police received a report of a crash involving a grey Mercedes A250, a black Renault Captur, a grey Skoda Karoq and a grey Hyundai i30.
Emergency services attended, however, the 58-year-old driver of the Hyundai i30 was pronounced dead at the scene.
Four others were taken to hospital for treatment and released.
The two women and a man from the Mercedes left the scene on foot prior to officers arriving.
Extensive enquiries, using specialists resources including air support and the dog unit, were deployed to help trace them and remain ongoing
The road was closed to allow investigation enquiries to be carried out and was re-opened around 7.05pm.
The vehicles were recovered.
Inspector Thomas Mallinson said: “My thoughts are with the family of the person who died at this incredibly difficult time.
“Our enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances of this crash, and it is vital we trace the three people who left the area before police arrived.
“I am appealing for anyone who witnessed it or who has information which could assist our investigation to contact us.
“I would also ask anyone who was in the area and may have dash-cam footage to please get in touch if it holds anything which could be relevant.”
Anyone with any information is asked to contact 101 quoting reference 0756 of 7 September, 2026.
Hundreds of former pupils, staff, partners and friends gathered at Portobello High School for a special anniversary lunch celebrating 150 years of the school at the heart of its community last week.
The event was just one of several ran throughout the year to mark the milestone and brought together generations of the Portobello community to reflect on the school’s rich history and celebrate the important role it continues to play in the area.
Guests enjoyed tours of the school and an extensive exhibition featuring photographs, documents and memorabilia from across the decades.
The celebration also included the launch of the school’s new digital archive, which will help preserve its history and make it accessible to former pupils and the wider community.
Former pupils and members of staff shared memories of their time at Portobello, while a special reflection remembered those who are sadly no longer with us.
Headteacher Greg McDowall said: “It was a wonderful occasion and a real privilege to welcome so many people back to Portobello.
“There was an incredible warmth throughout the day, with former pupils and staff reconnecting, sharing stories and celebrating everything the school has meant to the community over the past 150 years.
“Although we are enormously proud of our history, this celebration was also about looking ahead and ensuring that the legacy of Portobello High School continues for future generations.”
The school is encouraging former pupils, staff and members of the community to explore the Porty 150 digital archive on its website, where further photographs, memories and historical materials will continue to be added.
The archive was created by Ian Small, former pupil and former school dux and was awarded the MacIntyre prize by the school at the lunch for his hard work.
A number of events will also be held in the coming months, providing further opportunities for people to visit the school, spend time exploring the archive and share their own memories of Portobello High School. you can find out more at the Porty 150 section of the school website.
POLICE in Edinburgh have released images of two men they believe can assist with their investigation after a 24 year-old man was seriously assaulted on Princes Street around 2.35am on Saturday, 1 August, 2026.
The first man is described as white, 5ft 10in and in his late teens to early 20’s. He had blonde hair and was wearing a white t-shirt with grey jeans.
The second man is described as white, 6ft and in his late teens to early 20’s with short dark-coloured hair and glasses. He was wearing a black top with grey shorts and had a tattoo on the back of his left hand.
Detective Constable Gary Lipscombe of Gayfield CID said: “I would urge the men pictured or anyone who recognises them to contact us.
“This area was extremely busy at the time of the incident and I would ask anyone with information to contact Police Scotland through 101, quoting incident number 0473 of 1 August, 2026. Alternatively, Crimestoppers can be contacted on 0800 555 111, where anonymity can be maintained.”
The Capital Rail Action Group (CRAG) requested to send a deputation to Thursday’s Transport and Environment committee meeting – but were informed that, due to there being already six deputations, this would not be possible.
We were advised to instead submit a written statement – which I now attach (see below):
CEC Transport and Environment Committee, 10 September 2026 – Item 7.6: Trams from Granton to Edinburgh BioQuarter and Beyond
CRAG was set up to campaign for better public transport, especially rail-based, in and around Edinburgh back in the heady days of 1989 when Lothian Regional Council was consulting on their North-South Metro proposal:
You can see that the general thrust of proposals hasn’t changed much since then – except, of course, that Granton now features prominently in your discussions, making full use of the old Caledonian Railway alignment from Roseburn shown above. And the BioQuarter wasn’t even a thing back then.
Progress on developing public transport is extraordinarily slow and costly in this country and our competitor nations have since advanced on a scale unimaginable for us back in 1989, hugely boosting their economic output and raising millions of their population out of poverty – a truly virtuous cycle.
The decisions before you today are shaped by our limited progress on those fronts. The old railway alignments of north Edinburgh were re-purposed in the meantime as active travel corridors – a welcome ‘green travel’ initiative. But they have always been earmarked for travel not just by individuals fit enough to cycle, walk and jog but by all.
Indeed, Parliamentary consent was obtained for use of the Roseburn to Granton alignment for trams as far back as 2006.
CRAG recognises how attractive the Roseburn corridor has become over the years since the old railway trackbed was tarmacked. And we also recognise the utility it offers to cyclists in particular as part of a growing network of paths throughout the city. The 2006 consent also recognised this.
But this utility must now be extended to those who wish to travel by modern mass transit in our increasingly congested city.
The Council have proposed that, to better address the concerns of active travellers, the tram line from Roseburn to Craigleith be only single track with the stop at Ravelston dropped – and with no overhead wires. That carries with it operational risk for the tram – but it is a compromise offered in good faith. Unfortunately, for many cyclists, it is a compromise they are unwilling to accept. This is a view both myopic and discriminatory.
Whereas today approximately 600,000 trips are made along the Roseburn corridor, the tram is projected to carry 4.25 million passengers annually by 2042.
Moreover, it would not only support and drive the ongoing development of brownfield sites around Granton but would transform access to employment, education and health services for disadvantaged and deprived communities in Granton, Pilton and Drylaw.
To cap it all, building a tram line along the Roseburn corridor can be accomplished without the need to dig up streets, move utilities, etc. which bedevilled construction of Edinburgh’s only current tram line from the airport to Newhaven.
It, moreover, separates tram operation from general traffic – enabling a speedier and more reliable journey. And it links with the important transport hub which is Haymarket. It remains the only feasible route by which to connect Granton most efficiently to the city centre. That will not change.
So, whilst recognising the political reality in the City Chambers of minority support for the Roseburn to Granton corridor and that it is likely that the headline positive decision today will be to first proceed with the southern leg of the north-south tram route from the city centre to the BioQuarter, we would urge you, as per recommendation 1.1.4 to “Agree the need to retain ambition to deliver a mass transit connection between Granton and the city centre”.
We, of course, also support delivery of the leg from the city centre to the BioQuarter – not without its challenges but serving a corridor also long recognised as worthy of being provided with mass transit.
And, of course, this opens up the possibility of integration with the emerging tram-train proposal on the South Suburban railway line, especially at Cameron Toll – where a transport hub could be in the making.
Finally, two points:
we note that Parliamentary powers were also given in 2006 to construct a tram line from Newhaven to Granton. It’s not an ideal way to connect Granton to the west of the city centre – but it would be fine for journeys to and from the BioQuarter. Building this short section deserves serious consideration if the regeneration of the Granton area is to proceed most efficiently
to further enable this, consideration should also be given to running such trams directly up Leith Street – with a stop at the Omni Centre – instead of via St. Andrew Square. We note that the Leith Street alignment is shown in Figure 4.4 of the papers before you today.
… and finally, finally:
Cllr. Stephen Jenkinson revealed this aspirational Metro ‘concept’ map at a rail conference in Edinburgh in January of this year. It’s not official policy – but it’s always good to plant seeds for trees under whose shade, at my age, I may not live to sit. Hopefully some of you will live to see this!
Transforming public transport provision in and around Edinburgh is a challenge for our time. Let’s not drop the ball this time.
