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Publication - Statistics

Achievement of Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) levels: 2022/23

Published
12 December 2023
From
Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills
Directorate
Learning Directorate
Part of
Education
ISBN
9781835217283

Achievement of Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) levels: 2022/23 provides information on national performance in literacy and numeracy, based on all pupils in publicly funded Primary 1, Primary 4, Primary 7 and Secondary 3 classes, and for all pupils based in special schools/units.

This document is part of a collection

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Summary

Trend

The percentage of pupils achieving the expected CfE Level has increased in 2022/23 across all organisers and stages, as compared to 2021/22. For P1, P4 and P7 combined both literacy and numeracy have risen slightly above 2018/19 levels whilst for S3 (Third Level or better) they remain slightly lower.

Percentage of P1, P4 and P7 pupils combined achieving expected level, 2016/17 to 2022/23.
A chart showing the proportion of P1, P4 and P7 pupils combined who achieved the expected levels in literacy and in numeracy between 2016/17 and 2022/23.
Percentage of S3 pupils achieving Third Level or better, 2016/17 to 2022/23.
A chart showing the proportion of S3 pupils achieving Third Level or better in literacy and in numeracy between 2016/17 and 2022/23.

Key Staistics

  • Around 80% of primary school pupils achieved the expected CfE Level for reading.
  • Around 87% of primary school pupils achieved the expected CfE Level for listening and talking.
  • For writing, 78% of pupils achieved the expected CfE Level in P1. This compares to 72% in P4 and 75% in P7.
A graphic showing that 78% of P1 pupils, 72% of P4 pupils and 75% of P7 pupils achieved the expected Curriculum for Excellence Levels for writing in 2022/23.
  • For numeracy, 85% of pupils achieved the expected CfE Level in P1. This compares to 77% in P4 and 78% in P7.
A graphic showing that 85% of P1 pupils, 77% of P4 pupils and 78% of P7 pupils achieved the expected Curriculum for Excellence Levels for numeracy in 2022/23.
  • Around nine out of ten S3 pupils achieved Third Level or better for listening & talking (91%), reading (90%) and writing (89%).
  • Around nine out of ten S3 pupils achieved Third Level or better for numeracy (90%).
  • Female pupils outperform male pupils across almost all stages and organisers.
  • Across all stages and organisers the proportion of pupils achieving the expected level was lower for pupils with an Additional Support Need than for those without.
  • Across all stages and literacy organisers the proportion of pupils achieving the expected level was lower for pupils who have English as an Additional Language than for pupiIs who do not.

The attainment gap between school pupils in the most and least deprived areas, 2018/19 to 2022/23.

Primary Literacy
Chart showing the proportions of primary school pupils from the most and least deprived parts of Scotland who achieved the expected Curriculum for Excellence Levels in literacy between 2018/19 and 2022/23. The graph additionally shows the gaps between the two groups of pupils.
Secondary Literacy (Third Level or better)
Chart showing the proportions of S3 school pupils from the most and least deprived parts of Scotland who achieved Third Level or better in literacy between 2018/19 and 2022/23. The graph additionally shows the gaps between the two groups of pupils.
Primary Numeracy
Chart showing the proportions of primary school pupils from the most and least deprived parts of Scotland who achieved the expected Curriculum for Excellence Levels in numeracy between 2018/19 and 2022/23. The graph additionally shows the gaps between the two groups of pupils.
Secondary Numeracy (Third Level or better)
Chart showing the proportions of S3 school pupils from the most and least deprived parts of Scotland who achieved Third Level or better in numeracy between 2018/19 and 2022/23. The graph additionally shows the gaps between the two groups of pupils.

Contact

Email: school.stats@gov.scot

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