Education Outcomes for Looked After Children 2024/25

Achievement of Curriculum for Excellence Levels

This section presents statistics on the achievement for Curriculum Excellence Levels (CfE) for pupils looked after within the year. This report covers pupils who were in P1, P4, P7 or S3 during the 2024/25 school year. For more information, please see the background notes.

The national and local data used within this section covers publicly funded mainstream schools, and all pupils based in publically funded special schools.

This year, the statistics comprise 1,574 pupils in years P1, P4, P7 and S3, who were looked after in the last year. They also cover 337 pupils who were looked after within the last year who attended special schools/units. The information gathered as part of the return does not include a specific stage for these latter pupils. Therefore it is not possible to calculate the percentage of pupils in special schools/units who have achieved the CfE level relevant to their stage.

Headline findings

• In 2024/25, 59.3% of pupils looked after during the year in mainstream schools achieved the CfE level relevant to their stage in reading, 54.4% in writing, 68.9% in listening and talking and 54.8% in numeracy.
• Across all stages, listening and talking consistently has the highest proportion of pupils achieving the CfE level relevant for their stage. The lowest-performing areas differ by stage: writing in P1 and P4; numeracy and writing in P7; and reading in S3.
• Achievement levels across all subjects were lower for pupils looked after during the year compared to all pupils during 2024/25 for P1, P4, P7 and S3 stages. The gap between looked after pupils and all pupils has increased in 2024/25 compared to 2023/24 for all subjects at P1 and S3 stages. The gap between looked after pupils and all pupils decreased in the latest year for all subjects for P4 with the exception of reading, and increased for all subjects for P7 with the exception of writing.
• The achievement levels of pupils based in residential accommodation or looked after at home were lower on average than those looked after in community-based accommodation.
• In special schools/units, the proportion of pupils looked after within the year who were recorded as studying beyond Broad General Education level was higher for all subjects than for all pupils (approximately 5 percentage points for all subjects).

CfE levels by subject for looked after pupils and all pupils

In 2024/25, across all stages and subjects, a lower proportion of pupils who were looked after within the year achieved the CfE level relevant to their stage when compared with all pupils (Charts 3a-d).

In 2024/25, 59.3% of pupils looked after during the year in mainstream schools achieved the CfE level relevant to their stage in reading, 54.4% in writing, 68.9% in listening and talking and 54.8% in numeracy (Table 12). Across all stages, the proportion achieving the CfE level relevant for their stage is highest for listening and talking. The lowest-performing areas vary by stage: writing in P1 and P4, both writing and talking in P7, and reading in S3. (Tables 11b-e).

At the P1 stage, the attainment gap between pupils looked after during the year and all pupils was largest for writing (29.9 percentage points). In both P4 and P7, the largest attainment gap between the two cohorts was for numeracy (29.9 percentage points and 32.6 percentage points respectively) whereas reading showed the highest attainment gap at the S3 stage. The attainment gap between all pupils and looked after pupils was smallest for listening and talking across all stages, ranging from 18 percentage point gap at the P4 stage and 31.2 percentage points at the S3 stage.

The gap in attainment levels between pupils looked after during the year and all pupils increased for all subjects at P1 and S3 level between 2023/24 and 2024/25, ranging between a 0.1 percentage point increase for reading in P1 and a 6.3 percentage point increase for S3 listening and talking.

The change in the gap in attainment levels between 2024/25 and 2023/24 has shown more variation across subjects for P4 and P7. The percentage of P7 pupils looked after during the year who achieved the CfE level relevant to their stage decreased only for numeracy (1.4 percentage point decrease) between 2023/24 and 2024/25 (Table 11d). Similarly for P4, a decrease in those who achieved the CfE level relevant to their stage between 2023/24 and 2024/25 was seen only in reading (0.8 percentage point decrease).

When comparing the latest achievement rates for P1 pupils looked after during the year in 2024/25 and those in 2018/19 (prior to any impacts of COVID-19), all subjects saw an increase (ranging between 4.1 percentage points for numeracy, and 9.5 percentage points for listening and talking).

Table 11a: Number and percentage of P1 pupils achieveing the CfE level relevant to their stage by subject

Number and percentage of Primary 1 pupils who were looked after within the last year achieving the CfE level relevant to their stage by subject, 2018/19 to 2024/25 [Note 1].

Subject	2019 All looked after in the last year	2019 All pupils	2024 All looked after in the last year	2024 All pupils	2025 All looked after in the last year	2025 All pupils
Reading	59.1	81.5	55.2	81.2	54.5	80.6
Writing	55.4	79.0	54.7	79.4	48.8	78.7
Listening and Talking	71.8	86.9	69.6	87.3	67.9	86.5
Numeracy	66.9	84.7	64.0	84.9	61.3	84.6

[Note 1] See background notes for information regarding the CfE levels relevant to a pupil's stage.

[Note 2] All pupils data taken from Achievement of Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) Levels 2024-25.

For P4 pupils looked after during the year, the percentage of children achieving the relevant CfE level increased across writing, listening and talking and numeracy from 2023/24 to 2024/25. The largest increase was seen in listening and talking (3.5 percentage point increase). There was a slight decrease in the percentage of P4 pupils looked after during the year achieving the relevant CfE level for reading (0.8 percentage point decrease). When comparing the latest achievement rates for P4 pupils looked after during the year and those in 2018/19, all subjects showed an increase (ranging between 1.8 for numeracy and 9.9 percentage points for writing).

Table 11b: Number and percentage of P4 pupils achieving the CfE level relevant to their stage by subject

Number and percentage of Primary 4 pupils achieveing the CfE level relevant to their stage by subject, for pupils looked after within the year and all pupils, 2018/19 to 2024/25 [Note 1], [Note 2].

Subject	2019 All looked after in the last year	2019 All pupils	2024 All looked after in the last year	2024 All pupils	2025 All looked after in the last year	2025 All pupils
Reading	48.7	78.0	54.2	79.0	53.4	79.1
Writing	36.6	72.7	44.4	73.5	46.5	74.2
Listening and Talking	63.6	85.4	65.9	87.0	69.4	87.4
Numeracy	46.2	76.8	47.2	78.1	48.0	77.9

[Note 1] See background notes for information regarding the CfE levels relevant to a pupil's stage.

[Note 2] All pupils data taken from Achievement of Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) Levels 2024-25.

The percentage of pupils in P7 who were looked after during the year who achieved stage-relevant CfE level increased for reading, writing and listening and talking between 2023/24 and 2024/25. This increase ranged between 1.2 percentage points in writing and 0.3 percentage points in reading (Table 11c). Numeracy showed a decrease of 1.4 percentage points from the previous year. When comparing the latest achievement rates for P7 pupils looked after during the year and those in 2018/19, all subjects saw an increase (ranging between 4.2 percentage point increase for numeracy and 9.5 percentage point increase for listening and talking).

Table 11c: Number and percentage of P7 pupils achieving the CfE level relevant to their stage by subject

Number and percentage of Primary 7 pupils achieving the CfE level relevant to their stage by subject, for pupils looked after within the year and all pupils, 2018/19 to 2024/25 [Note 1], [Note 2].

Subject	2019 All looked after in the last year	2019 All pupils	2024 All looked after in the last year	2024 All pupils	2025 All looked after in the last year	2025 All pupils
Reading	48.3	79.8	54.9	81.3	55.2	82.0
Writing	38.3	73.7	45.2	75.9	46.3	76.9
Listening and Talking	58.7	85.6	67.8	87.7	68.2	88.5
Numeracy	42.2	76.0	47.7	78.5	46.3	78.9

[Note 1] See background notes for information regarding the CfE levels relevant to a pupil's stage.

[Note 2] All pupils data taken from Achievement of Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) Levels 2024-25.

The percentage of pupils in S3 who were looked after during the year who achieved stage-relevant CfE levels decreased across all subjects between 2023/24 and 2024/25. The decrease ranged from 3.8 percentage points for writing and 5.3 percentage points for listening and talking (Table 11d). When comparing the latest achievement rates for S3 children looked after during the year and those in 2018/19, all subjects saw a decrease (ranging between 4.7 percentage points for numeracy to 9.1 percentage points for listening and talking).

Table 11d: Number and percentage of S3 pupils achieving the CfE level relevant to their stage by subject

Number and percentage of Secondary 3 pupils achieving the CfE level relevant to their stage by subject, for pupils looked after within the year and all pupils, 2018/19 to 2024/25 [Note 1], [Note 2].

Subject	2019 All looked after in the last year	2019 All pupils	2024 All looked after in the last year	2024 All pupils	2025 All looked after in the last year	2025 All pupils
Reading	66.9	90.5	63.6	90.2	59.1	91.2
Writing	65.7	89.6	63.1	89.6	59.3	90.8
Listening and Talking	69.8	91.5	65.9	90.8	60.7	91.8
Numeracy	64.3	90.2	64.1	90.3	59.6	90.9

[Note 1] See background notes for information regarding the CfE levels relevant to a pupil's stage.

[Note 2] All pupils data taken from Achievement of Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) Levels 2024-25.

Chart 3a: Percentage of P1 pupils achieving the CfE level relevant to their stage by subject

Percentage of P1 pupils achieving the CfE level relevant to their stage by subject, for all children looked after within the year and all pupils, 2024/25.

Chart 3b: Percentage of P4 pupils achieving the CfE level relevant to their stage by subject

Percentage of P4 pupils achieving the CfE level relevant to their stage by subject, for all children looked after within the year and all pupils, 2024/25.

 

Chart 3c: Percentage of P7 pupils achieving the CfE level relevant to their stage by subject

Percentage of P7 pupils achieving the CfE level relevant to their stage by subject, for all children looked after within the year and all pupils, 2024/25.

Chart 3d: Percentage of S3 pupils achieving the CfE level relevant to their stage by subject

Percentage of S3 pupils achieving the CfE level relevant to their stage by subject, for all children looked after within the year and all pupils, 2024/25.

Type of placement

The percentage of children looked after during the year who achieved the CfE level relevant to their stage varied by the type of accomodation in which they were placed.

Table 12 shows that, of children who had one placement in the year, those in community placements had generally higher levels of achievement than those in residential placements, across all subjects, though children looked after at home had much lower achievement levels than children in other types of community accommodation.

There was a 17.1 percentage point difference between pupils in community and residential placements for numeracy (57.3% for those in a community placement and 40.2% for those in a residential placement). The percentage achieving the CfE level relevant to their stage in writing showed the smallest gap between community and residential placements at 12 percentage points.

Children placed with foster care placements purchased by the local authority has the highest levels of achievement in reading (72.0%), listening and talking (77.3%) and numeracy (67.3%). Children placed with foster carers provided by the local authority has the highest levels of achievement in writing (63.6%).

Table 12: Pupils achieving the CfE level relevant to their stage by accommodation type

Number and percentage of Primary 1, Primary 4, Primary 7 and Secondary 3 pupils who were looked after within the last year achieving the CfE level relevant to their stage by accommodation type, 2024/25 [Note 1], [Note 2], [Note 3], [Note 4].

Accommodation type	Number of children	Reading Percentage achieving the CfE level relevant to their stage	Writing Percentage achieving the CfE level relevant to their stage	Listening and Talking Percentage achieving the CfE level relevant to their stage	Numeracy Percentage achieving the CfE level relevant to their stage
In the community (children with one placement)	1,315	61.5%	56.6%	71.0%	57.3%
At home with parents	267	44.2	39.8	52.3	42.9
Kinship Carers: friends/relatives	584	63.2	58.5	75.0	58.1
Foster carers provided by LA	303	68.0	63.6	76.5	63.6
Foster carers purchased by LA	150	72.0	63.3	77.3	67.3
Other community [Note 3]	11	72.7	72.7	72.7	54.5
Residential accommodation (children with one placement)	87	47.1%	44.8%	56.3%	40.2%
Local authority home	36	44.4	38.9	50.0	33.3
Voluntary home	8	50.0	50.0	75.0	62.5
Other residential [Note 4]	43	48.8	48.8	58.1	41.9
More than one placement	172	48.3%	42.4%	59.3%	42.7%
All looked after in the last year	1,574	59.3%	54.4%	68.9%	54.8%

[Note 1] See background notes for information regarding the CfE levels relevant to a pupil's stage.

[Note 2] Children marked as 'not assessed' are included in the total count of children, but are excluded from calculation of the number of children achieving the CfE level relevant to their stage.

[Note 3] Includes 'with prospective adopters'.

[Note 4] Includes in voluntary home, residential school, secure care accommodation or crisis care.

Number of placements

Children who had one placement during the year reported higher achievement rates across all subjects than children with multiple placements in the year (Table 13).

Table 13: Achievemt of CfE level, by number of placements

Number and percentage of Primary 1, Primary 4, Primary 7 and Secondary 3 pupils who were looked after within the last year achieving the CfE level relevant to their stage by number of placements, 2024/25 [Note 1], [Note 2].

Number of placements	Number of children	Reading Percentage achieving the CfE level relevant to their stage	Writing Percentage achieving the CfE level relevant to their stage	Listening and Talking Percentage achieving the CfE level relevant to their stage	Numeracy Percentage achieving the CfE level relevant to their stage
One placement	1402	60.6	55.8	70.1	56.3
Two placements	129	49.6	45.0	62.8	43.0
Three or more placements	43	44.2	34.9	48.8	41.9
All looked after within the last year	1,574	59.3%	54.4%	68.9%	54.8%

[Note 1] See background notes for information regarding the CfE relevant to a pupil's stage.

[Note 2] Children marked as 'not assessed' are included in the total count of children, but are excluded from calculations of the number of children achieving the CfE level relevant to their stage.

Children based in special schools/units

For more information on how achievement of CfE levels for pupils in special schools/units is measured, please see section 5 of Achievement of Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) Levels 2024-25.

Across all subjects, around a fifth of children based in special schools/units who were looked after during the year were reported to be following individual milestones. Additionally, 23.4% were studying beyond Broad General Education level in each subject recorded (Table 14.b). The percentage of children based in special schools/units who were looked after during the year who had not yet achieved early levels ranged from 12.8% (listening and talking), to 16.6% (writing).

The breakdown of achievement in each subject and by stage for children based in special schools/units for all children are reported in Table 14.c. The  achievement gap between looked after children within the year and all children is much smaller in special schools/units. The proportion of children achieving each CfE level was higher for children looked after within the last year than for all children, with the greatest difference being at first level. Around 30% of all children were recorded as following individual milestones.

Table 14a: Special schools / units pupils achieving CfE levels by subject for all pupils looked after within the year

Percentage of special schools/units pupils achieving CfE levels by subject for all pupils looked after within the year [Note 1], [Note 2].

Stage	Reading	Writing	Listening and Talking	Numeracy
Not Yet Achieved Early Level	15.1	16.6	12.8	15.7
Achieved Early Level	18.7	18.4	18.4	16.3
Achieved First Level	12.8	12.8	12.2	14.2
Achieved Second Level	7.1	5.9	10.1	7.1
Achieved Third Level	1.8	1.8	1.8	2.1
Achieved Fourth Level	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Not Assessed	1.5	1.5	1.5	1.8
Child following individual milestones	19.6	19.6	19.9	19.3
Pupil studying beyond BGE level [Note 2]	23.4	23.4	23.4	23.4

[Note 1] The information gathered as part of the ACEL return for Special schools and standalone special units does not include a specific stage for these pupils. Please see Achievement of Curriculum for Excellence Levels 2024-25 Methodology.

Table 14b: Special schools / units pupils achieving CfE levels by subject for all pupils

Percentage of special schools/units pupils achieving CfE levels by subject for all pupils [Note 1].

Stage	Reading	Writing	Listening and Talking	Numeracy
Not Yet Achieved Early Level	26.3	24.9	25.3	24.7
Achieved Early Level	14.7	14.4	14.5	16.0
Achieved First Level	6.3	7.4	7.3	7.1
Achieved Second Level	1.9	3.0	2.4	2.0
Achieved Third Level	0.5	0.6	0.5	0.7
Achieved Fourth Level	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2
Not Assessed	1	1.0	0.9	1.0
Child following individual milestones	30.8	30.2	30.4	29.9
Pupil studying beyond BGE level [Note 2]	18.3	18.3	18.3	18.4

[Note 1] The information gathered as part of the ACEL return for Special schools and standalone special units does not include a specific stage for these pupils. Please see Achievement of Curriculum for Excellence Levels 2024-25 Methodology.