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
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.
On 27 November 2024 the Community and Places committee will consider a report on play parks in Highland. 94 play parks across Highland including 26 in Caithness are scheduled to close over 5 years.
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.
On Thursday the 21 November 2024, the Education Committee will be presented with an Education Trust Fund report that asks Members to approve the formation of an Education Trust Fund Sub Committee. There are significant funds held by The Highland Council in trust for the educational benefit within different communities.
At the Economy and Infrastructure Committee on Thursday 14 November 2024 councillors adopted an ambitious action plan to tackle biodiversity loss and support a nature-positive Highland. The Council's Ecology Strategy and Action Plan Strategy sets out and defines a series of key actions and activities that will assist the Council to deliver positive action to tackle biodiversity loss and start to address the ecological emergency for the benefit of its environment, economy, and communities.
The Highland Council's Economy and Infrastructure Committee have approved the rural Housing Supplementary Guidance which will now be used to inform all planning advice and decisions. Chair of the Committee, Councillor Ken Gowans said: "Following the decision by members today, I am pleased that we now have a positive, clear and consistent basis for considering and determining rural housing planning applications across the whole of the Highland Council area.
New guidance to support schools and organisations working with children and young people to develop comprehensive anti-bullying policies and improve behaviour and relationships has been published. ‘Respect for all' includes updates for staff on how to deal with specific incidents of bullying, including online bullying.
The Vice Chair of the Caithness Committee, Councillor Struan Mackie has expressed his delight at the number of worthwhile local projects that have benefitted from Ward Discretionary Funding in this financial year. All Council Wards receive a discretionary budget, and it is for Ward Councillors to consider what they wish to commit funds to, in line with Highland Council objectives and outcomes.
The Caithness Committee have agreed to adopt the modified Core Path Plans for Caithness. At their meeting yesterday members had the opportunity to discuss a report that summarised the review of The Highland Council Core Paths Plan in Caithness.
On Thursday 14 November 2024, Members of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee will be presented with a new Sustainable Tourism Strategy 2024-2030 and asked to note and agree recommendations which include adopting the new Sustainable Tourism Strategy. Also an agreement to amend the strategy to accommodate consultation feedback on the Visitor Levy Scheme.
