Improved Attainment Over Last 5 Years For Highland Schools
25th November 2022
Highland schools have made significant progress in improving their attainment outcomes for senior phase SQA results over the last 5 years.
Education Chair, Cllr John Finlayson said: "We welcome the positive attainment outcomes covered in the report and further highlighted by the attainment presentation at committee. The continued improvements we are seeing demonstrate the hard work of our schools and the resilience of our pupils who have made these improvements despite the disruption they have experienced on the back of the last two years from the pandemic. I look forward to the continued collaborative work with Officers, Head Teachers and Members to continue to raise school attainment and achievement in our schools."
The SQA results for 2022 is the first year that formal exams have taken place since 2019.
Particular improvement can be seen in the percentage of S4 learners attaining 5+, and 3+ Awards at SCQF Level 5 in S4. This has increased significantly and both measures are the highest in 5 years, resulting in a narrowing of the gap compared to National data for the same measures.
The attainment gap has also closed in Highland over a 4-year period, in most instances this being as a result of our most vulnerable pupils increasing in attainment.
Schools have reported that Covid has impacted particularly on young people living in deprivation, as evidenced by the increasing attainment gap during the pandemic for S4 and S6 in particular. However, there is an indication that the gap has started to close again this session.
A helpful presentation containing the high-level attainment messages and next steps in Highland was presented to Members of the Education Committee and is available to watch by webcast on the Council's website.
Secondary school-based attainment meetings will take place at the end of this year. At these meetings stretch targets for session 2022/23 will be set with each school.
Read the full report HERE
Pdf 16 pages
Related Businesses
Related Articles
Members have considered an update on the Council's medium term financial plan and the impact of the UK and Scottish Governments’ budgets on the coming year’s funding settlement. The position is currently looking more positive than initially planned for, however more detail needs to be worked through.
In November, The Highland Council launched a public statutory consultation to seek views on the proposed introduction of a Visitor Levy scheme across the Highlands. The Council has announced an extension to this consultation period, which will now give businesses, visitors and communities until 31 March 2025, an additional seven weeks, to take part and have their say.
In the light of the financial forecast for 2025-26, Highland Council is inviting you to tell us more in the budget preparation for the coming financial year. The budget engagement builds on extensive budget participation which took place in the winter of 2023-24.
The information provided is a summary of reports from operational staff and is intended to give a general indication of typical conditions in each area at a point in time. It is not intended to imply that any individual route is entirely snow and ice free and drivers must be aware that conditions can change rapidly and make their own assessment of conditions for travelling.
Every year Highland Council invites all tenants to have their say on the rent levels for the following year. The Council encourages everyone that lives in a council house to take this chance to have their say.
Communities and Place Committee met yesterday (Wednesday 27 November 2024) and Members agreed the Highland Local Child Poverty Action Report which includes actions for delivery in 2024/25. Reducing child poverty is a priority for the Council and its partners.
The information provided is a summary of reports from operational staff and is intended to give a general indication of typical conditions in each area at a point in time. It is not intended to imply that any individual route is entirely snow and ice free and drivers must be aware that conditions can change rapidly and make their own assessment of conditions for travelling.
Members of the Highland Council's Community and Place Committee have given their support to an action plan focusing on the operating of public conveniences over the next 10 years. Whilst not a statutory function, the Council is the main provider of public conveniences located throughout Highland, operating 74 sites.
A report published on 27 November 2024 by LGIU (Local Government Information Unit) looks at the state of funding for councils by the Scottish Government. Confidence in the sustainability of council finances is critically low.
At today's (Wednesday 27 November 2024) Communities & Place Committee, Members agreed the most appropriate long-term strategic direction for residual waste management is to continue to utilise a merchant provider solution. Communities & Place Committee Chair, Cllr Graham MacKenzie said: "After careful consideration and analysis it has been agreed that a merchant provider solution is considered the most appropriate long term solution to our statutory waste management obligations, and that an energy-from- waste facility within the Highlands is not considered to be a suitable course of action.
