Attainment Scotland Fund evaluation: reporting on National Improvement Framework attainment and health and wellbeing measures 2025

Summary Infographics

For P1, P4 and P7 pupils combined, the overall proportion achieving the expected levels in Literacy and Numeracy in 2023-24 are the highest to date.

There has been an upward trend in attainment for both the least and most deprived pupils in primary schools. The gap in Primary Literacy between school pupils in the most deprived and least deprived areas narrowed to the lowest ever level. The gap in Primary Numeracy has varied over the years but is slightly wider in 2023-24 than in 2022-23 or in 2017-18 and 2018-19.

For S3 pupils, the proportions achieving Third Level or better in Literacy and Numeracy are also the highest to date.

There has been an upward trend in attainment for both the least and most deprived pupils in S3- similar to primary school. The attainment gap between Secondary school pupils in the most deprived and least deprived areas is at its narrowest ever in both Literacy and Numeracy.

School leaver initial destinations

Overall, the percentage of school leavers in a positive initial destination increased between 2015-16 and 2022-23 but decreased very slightly in 2023-24.

The gap between leavers from the most deprived and least deprived areas in a positive initial destination widened slightly between 2022/23 and 2023/24. Despite this, this is the second narrowest gap since consistent records began in 2009-10.

School leaver attainment in National Qualifications

Overall, the percentage of school leavers with one or more qualifications has:

• decreased at SCQF Level 4 or better, from 96.3% in 2015-16 to 95.2% in 2023-24
• decreased at SCQF Level 5 or better, from 85.6% in 2015-16 to 83.5% in 2023-24
• decreased at SCQF Level 6 or better, from 61.7% in 2015-16 to 57.4% in 2023-24.

The attainment gap between leavers from the most deprived and least deprived areas is wider than at any time since 2015-16 at SCQF Levels 4 or better and 5 or better. At level 6 or better, the gap is fractionally narrower than 2015/16, but wider than in any year since 2016/17.

It should be kept in mind that the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) led to changes in how National Qualifications were assessed and graded in the years 2020 to 2023.

Annual Participation Measure

Overall, the percentage of 16 - 19-year-olds participating in education, training or employment has increased, from 90.4% in 2016 to 92.7% in 2024.

The gap between the percentage of 16 - 19-year-olds from the most deprived and least deprived^[3] areas participating in education, training or employment has been narrowing and is at its lowest level since 2016.

Attendance (primary and secondary)

The gap in attendance between school pupils from the most deprived and least deprived areas has widened since 2014/15, for both primary and secondary school pupils. The primary figure is fractionally lower in 2023/24 than 2022/23.

At secondary level, the gap is the widest since 2014/15.

27 – 30 Month Review

Overall, the percentage of children with no developmental concerns in Scotland has increased from 72.4% in 2015/16 to 77.6% in 2023/24.

The gap between children from the most deprived and least deprived areas who have no developmental concerns across all domains has varied since 2015/16. The gap increased in the years to 2017/18, then decreased to 2020/21 before increasing again in 2021/22 and 2022/23 and decreasing in 2023/24.

Notes:

• These statistics are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The impact of the pandemic should be borne in mind when considering changes over time. See the relevant section(s) of the publication for more details.
• pp = percentage point. Percentage point gaps are calculated from unrounded numbers.
• The attendance rate for 2020/21 refers to attendance when schools were open for pupils to attend in person.
• Attendance data was collected every two years until 2022/23, but since then it has now become an annual collection.