Tag: education

Primary Schools: Attainment at a record high, says Curriculum for Excellence report

Latest statistics show widespread improvement

The proportions of pupils in primary achieving expected levels of literacy and numeracy have reached record highs for children from both the most and least deprived areas, according to official statistics.

Overall, the Achievement of Curriculum for Excellence Levels (ACEL) 2022/23 show:

  • for numeracy, a total of 79.6% of pupils reached the levels expected in 2022/23, a rise of 0.5 percentage points compared to the previous high (79.1% in 2018/19).
  • for literacy a rise to 72.7%, up on the previous high of 72.3% in 2018/19

The gap between the proportion of primary pupils from the most and least deprived areas achieving expected levels in literacy has also decreased to the lowest on record in 2022/23.

The figures also show improvements at secondary level compared to 2021/22, with increases in attainment across the board and the gap between those from most and least deprived areas has reduced.

Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth said: “These figures show record levels of attainment across primary school level and significant improvements in secondary. I congratulate our pupils and teachers for their hard work over the last year.

“These findings are the most up to date statistics on attainment and are comprehensive across all publicly funded schools in Scotland, demonstrating a clear rise in standards above pre-pandemic levels among primary school pupils. Along with this year’s SQA results, they point to widespread rises in attainment.

“I recognise that there is no room for complacency and our programme of reform across the education and skills system will help identify where further improvements can be made and will look to drive enhanced attainment to ensure all young people meet their full potential.”

COSLA’s Children and Young People Spokesperson Cllr Tony Buchanan said: “Today’s Achievement of Curriculum for Excellence Levels publication shows increasing attainment and the attainment gap narrowing reflecting the work and dedication of schools, councils, and partners to improving children’s outcomes. Mainly, it demonstrates the efforts of children and young people themselves and this should be celebrated.

“The improvements are made despite the backdrop of severe and increasing pressure on local budgets and recruitment challenges in specific subjects and areas of the country. Earlier this year we set out clearly to the Scottish Government that additional core funding is crucial to enabling further improvement in the attainment, health and wellbeing of children and young people, as opposed to financial penalties relating to school staffing numbers.

This was particularly important in the context of falling school rolls, changes to Scottish Attainment Challenge funding and the ending of additional resource for councils to support Ukrainian refugees. We are clear that Local Government needs flexibility to provide the right support within and outwith schools, drawing on the expertise of a range of professionals.

“Councils have continued to demonstrate their ambition to further improve outcomes for children and young people across Scotland. In line with the Verity House Agreement, we will seek to engage constructively with the Scottish Government to work collectively towards this shared aim, including on further education reform in line with recent reports on the curriculum, qualifications and new national education bodies.”

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Updating the maths curriculum

Specialist to lead improvements

Maths will be the first subject area to be updated as part of a new approach to improvement to ensure that Scotland’s curriculum remains engaging, forward looking and supports high quality teaching and learning.

Beginning in 2024, a maths specialist will lead on this work, alongside the National Response to Improving Mathematics (NRIM), which will include looking at curriculum relevance and transitions between primary and secondary.

The 2022 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) study, which published last week, showed that in Scotland performance in reading was above the OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) average, with results in maths and science in line with the average. This was also the case in the previous survey, in 2018.

Updating Parliament, Cabinet Secretary for Education & Skills Jenny Gilruth said: “While the latest PISA stats showed Scotland has maintained our global standing, every country in the UK has seen a reduction in its PISA scores across maths between 2018 and 2022. I was clear there will be key learnings for us to address reflecting on the latest statistics covering education in Scotland.

“Wider evidence from both the 2023 national qualification results and the most recent literacy and numeracy data for primary, show clear evidence of an ongoing recovery which we are determined to build on. My view is that maths education requires to be a central focus for Government, councils and schools alike.

“I want this work nationally to be led by a maths specialist working alongside the National Response to Improving Mathematics. They will also provide a key role in driving the improvements required to improve Scotland’s performance in maths.” 

A maths national thematic inspection, with a focus on teaching and learning will also be carried out by the interim Chief Inspector in 2024, to support this work.

Schools: Action to address behaviour and attendance issues

Funding to address problems at the root

Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth has announced £900,000 in new funding for staff to tackle poor behaviour and attendance in schools. 

The funding will be provided directly to local authorities to train support staff to respond to new challenges and develop behaviour management strategies in schools post COVID.

It comes as part of a multi-year plan that is being developed in conjunction with key stakeholders and will set out actions at national, local and school level to improve behaviour and support better relationships.

Actions include:

  • the new Interim Chief Inspector being tasked with ensuring HMI inspections are accurately recording behaviour to ensure any issues are tackled as soon as possible
  • a call for more accurate and robust recording of any incidents of poor behaviour in schools
  • a dedicated approach to responding to issues regarding misogyny

Ms Gilruth said: “It is important we keep the big picture in mind, with research published yesterday showing staff reporting generally good behaviour amongst pupils. However, the status quo is not an option and the plan I am setting out today will provide the support necessary to help tackle these problems at the root.

“I am absolutely clear that our schools should be safe and consistent learning environments for all. No teacher, or support assistant should face violence or abusive behaviour at work. We cannot suggest that the pandemic has not exacerbated inequity and nor must we blame it for these challenges.

“Schools, equally, can’t do this all alone; they need help. We have to enact a national plan which better supports our teachers and support staff in the workplace; recognising the role of Local Government as employer.

“And that plan has to better protect the learning outcomes for our young people – the vast majority of whom are well behaved. That is the prize that better behaviour in our schools can deliver – and I look forward to working with our partners to deliver just that.”

Headteachers, teaching unions, local authorities, parents, carers and children and young people will help inform the national action plan to improve behaviour and support better relationships in schools. 

The plan will be developed in the coming weeks and published in the new year.

Behaviour and relationships in schools

MSP supports ASN Reform Scotland

Foysol Choudhury MSP pursues support for children with additional support needs

ASN Reform Scotland recently attended the Scottish Parliament to hold a drop-in session for MSPs. Their mission was to raise awareness amongst MSPs about the issues that children with ASN and their parents are facing, how to improve ASN education in Scotland, and to help raise awareness of children with ASN ‘s educational needs.  

Training for people who work with children and young people with complex additional support needs emerged as a key theme from the Scottish Government’s recent 2023 report, ‘Pupils with complex additional support needs: research into provision’. These findings about challenges in accessing training were echoed by parents in the ASN Reform Scotland Group, who raised concerns that the environment provided by mainstream schools is often not appropriate for children with additional support needs due to, for example, a lack of appropriate training for teachers.

Foysol Choudhury MSP hosted the ASN Reform Scotland Group’s drop-in session for MSPs at the Scottish Parliament, after meeting the group outside the Scottish Parliament before the Parliament’s summer recess and offering his assistance to the group. Mr Choudhury says it was saddening to hear about the lack of appropriate support some children are getting at school, with some parents reporting having to take on the burden of teaching their own children.

Foysol Choudhury MSP said: “It was made clear at the drop-in session that parents feel unsupported. 

“The group are calling to increase ASN provisions in Scotland and ensure all teachers get specific ASN training to bring the best for all our children.

“There should be support for children with ASN in school along with school staff members getting provided with the correct training in all types of schools, so parents can feel they are sending their children to a safe and beneficial environment”. 

Parents from the ASN Reform Scotland group also raised with Mr Choudhury their concerns over stretched funding and called for accountability over how funds are spent to support a child with ASN.

The group says this will not just benefit the children’s development but will also help their families, as parents will be assured are that their children are getting the right support and care when they are at school. 

A rolling presentation was played at the meeting, to convey the concerns of parents of children with ASN across Scotland. One parent noted they want “All teachers to have ASN training in mainstream schools”. Another noted: “My child deserves to thrive, not just survive in school”. 

Mr Choudhury says he will continue to support the ASN Reform Group and other parents wherever he can.

Celebration as pupils and teachers receive The Saroj Lal Award

Celebrating diversity through creativity in our schools was the theme of the Saroj Lal Award for Edinburgh Schools event held at the City Chambers on Thursday night (16 November).

Saroj Lal was one of the first Asian women to teach in a Scottish primary school when she began her role at South Morningside Primary School in 1970.

Her many successes included being at the forefront of race relations during a period of immense political and social change, delivering anti-racism training and starting the first local authority interpreting and translating service in Edinburgh.

Following her death in 2020, Saroj’s many achievements in equality, women’s rights, education, and community work are being formally recognised.

Every year our schools are invited to nominate pupil work relating to any aspect of equalities, in any artform. Headteachers were also invited to nominate staff, whose collaborative work around equalities has taken a creative approach and had an impact.

All nominated work will be used to start building a resource bank for schools. This year saw more schools and pupils enter with 11 schools nominated, 33 pupil/pupil group nominations and two teacher nominations submitted.

The entries were considered by a panel of judges, comprising Saroj Lal’s son and equalities campaigner Vineet Lal, Katie D’Souza (2022 Joint winner of the GTC Scotland Saroj Lal Award) and Nikhat Yusaf, Senior Development Officer Equalities for the City of Edinburgh Council.

The award categories for pupils were as follows:

  • Proud to be Me: Communicates the young person’s personal expression of pride in their heritage, in their own culture and/or identity.
  • How Prejudice Makes Me Feel: Expresses young people’s feelings about any form of prejudice inflicted on themselves or others.
  • Artivism: Art expresses their views on social justice and challenges others to change and/or act differently.

There were joint winners for the Proud to be Me category: Lily Schiller-Chatwood, Leith Academy and Natali Rawat, St Thomas of Aquin’s RC High School.

In the How Prejudice Makes Me Feel category the winner was Amna Parveen, Castlebrae Community Campus.          

For the Artivism category the winner were the Equalities Lead Pupils at St Augustine’s High School.

The staff winner was Elaine Oram, James Gillespie’s High School.

The Commendation winner, was a whole school effort, and went to Currie Primary School.

Councillor Joan Griffiths, Education, Children and Families Convener, hosted the event and said: “These awards build on the rich legacy that Saroj Lal left in her decades of pioneering work in Edinburgh and beyond. They recognise the work schools and pupils are doing to challenge the many forms of prejudice and discrimination.

I am so glad to see that in the Awards second year, many more schools have engaged with the award and submitted such a range of creative works, to include films, animation, poetry, and art works, demonstrating that diversity is thriving in our schools.

“The creativity, insights and depth of thinking on display have been hugely impressive, and everyone involved – pupils and staff – deserves to be congratulated.”

Vineet Lal, son of Saroj Lal, and one of the Award judges, said: “It has been thrilling to see the passion and enthusiasm demonstrated by all those taking part in the Saroj Lal Award for Edinburgh Schools.

“The sheer scope and breadth of nominations, from almost a dozen participating schools this year, illustrates how engaged our local pupils are with issues linked to equality, diversity and inclusion, and it has been a pleasure and a privilege to be part of the judging panel.

“The creativity, insights and depth of thinking on display have been hugely impressive, and everyone involved – pupils and staff – deserves to be congratulated.

Last night’s event followed on from Portobello High School biology teacher Hardeep Kaur being awarded the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTC Scotland) Saroj Lal Award for a Pioneering Spirit in Equality and Diversity. 

Aims of The Saroj Lal Award for City of Edinburgh Schools: 

  • Mark the important legacy of Saroj Lal’s life and work.
  • Inspire action and promote equalities work in the widest sense.
  • Ensure pupils’ views, ideas and experiences are central and communicated widely through creative approaches.
  • Create a bank of resources for schools to use and share.
  • Challenge perceptions, remove stigma and celebrate diversity.

Scottish government consults on education and skills reform

Views sought on new qualifications body and inspectorate

People are being asked to share their views to create a new national qualifications body and new approaches to inspection, as part of reforms to Scotland’s education and skills system.

Legislation will be introduced to Parliament in 2024 to implement the Scottish Government’s commitment to replace the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) with a new organisation. Views are now being sought on how this new body will involve pupils and students and the teaching professions in its decision making, as well as being accountable and transparent.

The public consultation on reform of the education and skills sector is also seeking views on changes in relation to inspection, which currently sits with Education Scotland – to maximise the positive impacts of inspection and ensure high levels of confidence in the system among teachers, other professionals, parents and carers and the public.

It was announced during a wide ranging statement on Education and Skills reform where Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth also announced the publication of the third report from the First Minister’s International Council of Education Advisers, which sets out the need for investment in education professionals to address the changing needs of young people. The Education Secretary also gave an update on planning for the proposed Centre for Teaching Excellence.  

Ms Gilruth said: “The case for reform is clear and we need to deliver tangible action, setting out the steps which are right for our education system now. 

“This consultation is an important opportunity for young people, parents and carers and, crucially, teachers to make their voices heard and is an important step in designing our national education and skills landscape in its totality.

“The new qualifications body and approaches to inspection are the foundations of delivering meaningful reform, meaning better outcomes for young people and adult learners, ensuring that the views and needs of pupils, teachers and others who rely on this service are at the heart of what they do, and how they deliver support.

“I am determined to continue to build the consensus for change. We need the system to work better for children and young people as well as the profession, ensuring it continues to support everyone to positively contribute to our country.”

UNISON City of Edinburgh denounces Council’s determination to enforce education cuts

UNISON City of Edinburgh is deeply concerned by the decision made by City of Edinburgh Council to delete the Education Welfare Officer (EWO) Service from its books.

This being despite our warnings that the removal of these posts will be detrimental to the children of Edinburgh who need additional support. EWO’s play a crucial role, working with our schools and the children’s families to address the issue of repeated absenteeism. They offer direct support to struggling households providing answers and solutions to the problems that vex many of our children.

At its November meeting yesterday, City of Edinburgh Council voted against reversing the removal of these posts. This happened despite a joint proposal put forward by the SNP and Greens which aimed to reverse the £600k cut to the EWO Service.

The decision to remove these posts was supported by the Labour Group with the complete support of all Lib Dem and Conservative Councillors.

Graham Neal, from the UNISON City of Edinburgh branch, spoke on behalf of the EWO’s and asked why the Council was prepared to lose such an important and vital service, questioning the understanding behind such a decision.

Emphasis was also made in regard to the adverse effect this cut would have on the city’s most vulnerable children and families as well as the significant impact on the Council’s ability to fulfil its statutory commitments.

Graham went on to add that the fateful decision taken by the Labour Administration and their partners not to support the SNP/Green proposal to protect Education Welfare Officer posts sends a concerning message about their commitment to safeguarding the future of our city’s children.

It is deeply disappointing that regardless of the genuine concerns raised by school staff, parents and UNISON the Labour Administration appear more interested in balancing the books than protecting the well-being and future of our city’s children and families, the union said.

Plans annnounced for Centre of Teaching Excellence

Education Secretary announces plans as part of wider reform

Plans for a new national centre to ensure excellence in teaching across Scotland have been announced by Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth.

The Centre of Teaching Excellence will support research and innovation in teaching practice for all children and young people, with the aim of making Scotland a world-leader in teaching practice.

The centre will be developed in partnership with teachers and professional associations as part of ongoing work to reform Scotland’s education system.

Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth said: “Excellent learning and teaching must be the foundation of all that we do in Scottish education.

“I want to ensure that all of our hard-working teachers are supported and empowered in our classrooms.

“That is why, as part of the education reform agenda, we will establish a new Centre of Teaching Excellence, making Scotland a world-leader in new approaches to learning and teaching.

“Co-designed with our teachers and professional associations, the Centre of Teaching Excellence will put Scotland at the forefront of innovative research in teaching practice.

“We will use the centre to work together with Local Authorities in our shared, national mission to close the attainment gap and deliver truly excellent learning and teaching to all of our children.”

Next steps for the creation of the Centre of Teaching Excellence will be announced in due course, after engagement with teachers and professional associations.

Graduation day as 10 Edinburgh youngsters complete ‘mini PhD’ in abacus

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar presents trophies and certificates at education ceremony

Twenty-three of the brightest minds in the UK – ten of them from Edinburgh – were honoured in a ceremony in Glasgow last month (16th September) to celebrate their completion of a leading abacus training programme.

The War Memorial Hall in Bishopbriggs, packed with family and friends of the winners, rung with heartfelt applause when Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar MSP presented each of the children with their awards.

The celebration was organised by computer scientist and educator, Dr Rashmi Mantri, head of The British Youth International College (BYITC), who set up the organisation in 2015 after teaching her own son, Druhv, maths using a counting tool that has been used for millennia – the abacus.

Now BYITC and its Supermaths programme is the leading abacus training provider in the UK and has also developed the world’s first games-based abacus maths application.

“Clearing all levels of Abacus is no walk in the park as it requires a lot of hard work and typically takes students 3 – 4 years of practice to complete this. It really is like a mini PhD for these incredible young people,” said Dr Mantri.

“As well as enabling people to do mental arithmetic in super fast time, the abacus is a highly effective brain development tool for concentration. The touch and feel nature of it makes it very popular for children with dyslexia also for example.

“With Maths Week Scotland fast approaching at the end of the month, we want parents and teachers to know that the abacus is a tried and tested tool to improve mental maths. Our annual maths competition called an Olympiad, is launching on 25th September – it is very popular as it is open to anyone to enter and is free of charge.”

Of the 23 winners at the graduation ceremony, 10 were from Edinburgh (listed below), 7 from Glasgow, 1 from Falkirk and the remainder from across England and Wales.

·       Mishika Pandey, 10, who attends East Craigs Primary School

·       Shariva Lasure, 12, who attends Craigmount High School

·       Aaliyah Deepak Krishnaveni, 11, who attends Tynecastle High School

·       Gauri Shrikande, 12, who attends Craigmount High School

·       Aarush Gosain, 12, who attends Rosehill High School, Wallyford

·       Taran Vighnesh, 9, who attends Kirkliston Primary School

·       Shreya Navratna, 15, who attends Tynecastle High School

·       Rishon Ashley, 14, who attends Tynecastle High School

·       Santiago Prieto, 12, who attends St Augustine’s RC High School

·       Tanush Venkat, 11, Cramond Primary School

The parents of Rishon, 14, from Edinburgh, said: “As parents of the millennials, we stand before a crowd of highly intelligent and capable future leaders – today’s kids.

“Abacus classes run by BYITC are really effective and have made it worth these the kids’ time in preparing, attending and undertaking homework assignments provided by able teachers and coordinators.

“We are humbled by the extent and quality of their input and happy to be part of this fitting recognitions.”

Leader of the Scottish Labour Party and Member of the Scottish Parliament, Anas Sarwar, said: “It is a great privilege to meet, and present completion certificates, to all of these high-achieving young people.

“Highlighting the outstanding achievements of young people across the United Kingdom is vital for their own development and the future of our nation, and I congratulate each and every one of them on their awards.

“I would like to congratulate the work of Dr Rashmi Mantri and the BYITC team in continuing to develop and teach the next generation of STEM superstars.”

To find out more about the awards and how to sign up for the free maths competition, visit the BYITC website.

Cutting the cost of the school day

Education Secretary praises innovative approach

Pupils and staff at Braes High School in Falkirk have been highlighting their innovate approaches to help cut the cost of the school day for families, as part of Challenge Poverty Week.

Cost-saving initiatives include the creation of ‘Take What You Need’ trolleys with essential school items, toiletries and snacks.  S1 pupils also receive a Braes Backpack which contains a school starter kit.

The school has received more than £369,000 of Scottish Government Pupil Equity Funding (PEF) in recent years, supporting a range of work including these latest initiatives.

Scotland has the most generous universal free school meal offer of any nation in the UK – saving families an average of £400 per eligible child per year – while the School Clothing Grant has been increased so that those who are eligible receive at least £120 per child of primary school age and £150 per secondary pupil.

The 2023-24 Programme for Government set out commitments to further support reductions in the cost of the school day by funding the removal of core curriculum charges, further expanding free school meals and increasing the school clothing grant for the next academic year.

On a visit to the school, the Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth said: “It was hugely encouraging to visit Braes High School during Challenge Poverty Week and to witness the innovative approaches pupils and staff have adopted to deal with the challenges that, sadly, too many of our young people and their families are facing.

“This work has been supported by the Scottish Government’s Pupil Equity Funding scheme – with more than £520 million this parliamentary term empowering headteachers to take creative and innovative approaches to tackle the poverty-related attainment gap.

“We are determined to do everything in our power to support families out of poverty, including investing in the game-changing Scottish Child Payment – part of a package of measures taken by this government which will help lift 90,000 children out of poverty in Scotland this year.

“We know that many families are still struggling, particularly as a result of the cost of living crisis. Tackling the cost of the school day is a key priority for the Scottish Government.”

Sara Spencer, Cost of the School Day Project Manager at Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) in Scotland: “We have been delighted to work with Braes High School and their Cost of the School Day Pupil Group and see all of the meaningful ways young people have involved their school community and designed supports that help to make sure everyone can take part and feel included.

“Cost of the School Day at Braes is an inspiring example of what can happen when young people take the lead on equity in their own schools and a reminder of the impact that a poverty aware school culture and a clear focus on reducing the cost of the school day can have.”

Braes HS Head teacher Iain Livingstone said: “Our young people, staff, parents, carers and the wider community work well together to challenge poverty and support all learners. Pupil Equity Funding has helped us take forward a number of projects and support to help our young people get the most out of their education.

“We enjoyed being able to speak with the Cabinet Secretary, and seeing our young people discuss the  many developments and ideas they lead.”

Braes High School worked with the Child Poverty Action Group to develop these initiatives. They are part of the new Cost of the School Day Voice network of children and young people.

Schools in Falkirk Council have received more than £26 million from the Scottish Government between 2015-16 and 2022-23 to close the poverty related attainment gap.