Ministers accused of ‘flunking’ education as attainment gap grows in Scotland
Ministers have been accused of “flunking” Scotland’s education system after “damning” figures revealed the attainment gap is growing.
Opposition parties accused the Scottish Government of being “missing in action” while taking schools in the “wrong direction”.
Statistics released on Tuesday showed the gap in achievement between the richest and poorest pupils rose slightly over the last year.
The difference between the most and least deprived areas for attaining at least one pass at SCQF level four or higher rose from 5.9 percentage points in 2022/23 to 7.3 points in 2023/24.
The gap for those receiving a level five qualification increased from 20.2 percentage points to 22.7 over the same time.
Meanwhile, the difference in attainment for those awarded a level six qualification or higher jumped from 36.9 to 38.4 percentage points.
Level six qualifications include Highers – the primary qualifications needed to get into university.
Willie Rennie, education spokesperson for the Scottish Liberal Democrats, said “fundamental issues” in Scotland’s schools still need to be solved.
Closing the attainment gap is essential so that young people can fulfil their potential and so that as a country we have the skills we need in the future
He said: “The attainment gap got bigger last year. Ministers have flunked it.
“The SNP now have no chance of closing the poverty-related attainment gap next year as they promised a decade ago.
“When I speak with teachers they identify a series of classroom challenges, from bad behaviour and high absence rates to lack of additional support for pupils who need it and teachers languishing on supply lists.
“There are also fundamental issues with the curriculum that must be fixed.
“Closing the attainment gap is essential so that young people can fulfil their potential and so that as a country we have the skills we need in the future.”
The figures also show the number of pupils leaving school to a “positive destination” – which includes further education, training, employment and voluntary work among other areas – remains at historically high levels.
Some 95.7% of pupils fell into this category last year, down 0.2% points from the year before but accounting for the second-highest figure since 2009.
The gap between the proportion of school leavers in positive destinations from the most and least deprived areas is 4.3 percentage points, an increase from 3.7 points the previous year.
The number of pupils receiving one or more level five national qualifications or better fell from 84.8% of all school leavers to 83.5%, while those receiving at least one level six national qualification or better dropped from 57.9% to 57.4%.
Tuesday’s figures do not take into account the attainment gap for grades. Even if poorer pupils achieve qualifications during school, they are more likely to achieve a lower grade than their richer counterparts.
Figures last year showed the gap for National 5 and Higher exams sat at 17.2 percentage points.
Conservative education spokesman Miles Briggs said a new approach to education is needed in Scotland.
He added: “Nicola Sturgeon promised to eradicate the attainment gap, but her legacy lies in tatters since it’s actually widening under the SNP. Meanwhile, the number of unemployed school leavers is up.
“After years of insisting that education is their priority, the SNP have been missing in action while ministers have let down pupils and teachers at every turn.
“Under John Swinney’s Government, it’s our most deprived students who now face the narrowest options and the worst prospects.”
Labour MSP Pam Duncan-Glancy described the figures as “damning” and said they showed the SNP is taking the education system “in the wrong direction”.
She said: “On the SNP’s watch, attainment is declining and the poverty-related attainment gap is growing, with the poorest kids in Scotland paying the harshest price for SNP failure.
“Classrooms are like pressure cookers, with teachers and pupils alike dealing with rising levels of violence and schools are completely disconnected from the world of work.
“We need an education system that unlocks the potential of every single child and helps them find the right path – whether they are going to university, college, an apprenticeship or work.”
Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth said: “It’s very welcome to see the vast majority of school leavers in Scotland continuing to enter a positive destination on leaving school, with the percentage of those in a positive destination after three months (95.7%) being the second highest since records began.
“These results are testament to the hard work of the young people and all those who support them.
“We will continue to work with our post-school system to ensure all young people have the opportunity to achieve their potential, whether it is in further or higher education, apprenticeships, training or the world of work.
“It is also good news that the number of school leavers achieving one or more vocational and technical qualification has increased.
The Scottish Government is committed to enhancing outcomes for young people
“While the gap between the proportion of school leavers from the most and least deprived areas has reduced by two-thirds since 2009-10, there is much more work still to do to close this gap, particularly for the generation of children who experienced the pandemic.
“The Scottish Government is committed to enhancing outcomes for young people.
“This includes delivering a fair and credible qualifications and assessment system as part of our wider work on educational reform.”
