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Publication - Strategy/plan

National Improvement Framework 2026: improvement plan

Published
9 December 2025
From
Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, +1 more … Minister for Children, Young People and The Promise
Directorate
Learning Directorate, +2 more … Early Learning and Childcare Directorate, Education Reform Directorate
Topic
Children and families, Education
ISBN
9781806434091

The 2026 improvement plan provides the full details of the actions that will be taken to deliver the seven outcomes set out in the 2026 National Improvement Framework, the evidence to support them, and how we will measure progress.

View supporting documents Supporting documents

Summary of charts

Chart 1. Percentage of children reviewed who had no concerns about any aspects of their development at their 27-30 month review at Scotland-level, by SIMD (most deprived and least deprived) and the gap
A graph showing the percentage of children reviewed who had no concerns about any aspects of their development at their 27-30 month review at Scotland-level
A graph showing the percentage of children reviewed who had no concerns about any aspects of their development at their 27-30 month review by SIMD (most deprived and least deprived)
A graph showing the percentage point gap between the most and least deprived children reviewed who had no concerns about any aspects of their development at their 27-30 month review
Chart 2. Percentage of children (aged 4-12 years) with a Total Strength and Difficulties Score of 14 or more (slightly raised, high or very high) at Scotland-level, by SIMD (most deprived and least deprived) and the gap
A graph showing the percentage of children (aged 4-12 years) with a Total Strength and Difficulties Score of 14 or more (slightly raised, high or very high) at Scotland-level
A graph showing the percentage of children (aged 4-12 years) with a Total Strength and Difficulties Score of 14 or more (slightly raised, high or very high) by SIMD (most deprived and least deprived)
A graph showing the percentage point gap between the most and least deprived children (aged 4-12 years) with a Total Strength and Difficulties Score of 14 or more (slightly raised, high or very high)
Chart 3. Mean WEMWBS scores for 13-15 year olds at Scotland-level and by SIMD (most deprived and least deprived), 2017-2021
A graph showing the mean WEMWBS scores for 13-15 year olds at Scotland-level and by SIMD (most deprived and least deprived), 2017-2021
Chart 4. Percentage of P1, P4 and P7 pupils (combined) achieving expected CfE Levels for Literacy at Scotland-level, by SIMD (most deprived and least deprived) and the poverty-related attainment gap
A graph showing the percentage of P1, P4 and P7 pupils (combined) achieving expected CfE Levels for Literacy at Scotland-level
A graph showing the percentage of P1, P4 and P7 pupils (combined) achieving expected CfE Levels for Literacy by SIMD (most deprived and least deprived)
A graph showing the percentage point gap between the most and least deprived P1, P4 and P7 pupils (combined) achieving expected CfE Levels for Literacy
Chart 5. Percentage of S3 pupils achieving CfE Third Level or better for Literacy at Scotland-level, by SIMD (most deprived and least deprived) and the poverty-related attainment gap
A graph showing the percentage of S3 pupils achieving CfE Third Level or better for Literacy at Scotland-level
A graph showing the percentage of S3 pupils achieving CfE Third Level or better for Literacy by SIMD (most deprived and least deprived)
A graph showing the percentage point gap between the most and least deprived S3 pupils achieving CfE Third Level or better for Literacy
Chart 6. Percentage of P1, P4 and P7 pupils (combined) achieving expected CfE Levels for Numeracy at Scotland-level, by SIMD (most deprived and least deprived) and the poverty-related attainment gap
A graph showing the percentage of P1, P4 and P7 pupils (combined) achieving expected CfE Levels for Numeracy at Scotland-level
A graph showing the percentage of P1, P4 and P7 pupils (combined) achieving expected CfE Levels for Numeracy by SIMD (most deprived and least deprived)
A graph showing the percentage point gap between the most and least deprived P1, P4 and P7 pupils (combined) achieving expected CfE Levels for Numeracy
Chart 7. Percentage of S3 pupils achieving CfE Third Level or better for Numeracy at Scotland-level, by SIMD (most deprived and least deprived) and the poverty-related attainment gap
A graph showing the percentage of S3 pupils achieving CfE Third Level or better for Numeracy at Scotland-level
A graph showing the percentage of S3 pupils achieving CfE Third Level or better for Numeracy by SIMD (most deprived and least deprived)
A graph showing the percentage point gap between the most and least deprived S3 pupils achieving CfE Third Level or better for Numeracy
Chart 8. Percentage of secondary school leavers achieving one or more passes in National Qualifications at SCQF L4 or better at Scotland-level, by SIMD (most deprived and least deprived) and the gap
A graph showing the percentage of secondary school leavers achieving one or more passes in National Qualifications at SCQF L4 or better at Scotland-level
A graph showing the percentage of secondary school leavers achieving one or more passes in National Qualifications at SCQF L4 or better by SIMD (most deprived and least deprived)
A graph showing the percentage point gap between the most and least deprived secondary school leavers achieving one or more passes in National Qualifications at SCQF L4 or better
Chart 9. Percentage of secondary school leavers achieving one or more passes in National Qualifications at SCQF L5 or better at Scotland-level, by SIMD (most deprived and least deprived) and the gap
A graph showing the percentage of secondary school leavers achieving one or more passes in National Qualifications at SCQF L5 or better at Scotland-level
A graph showing the percentage of secondary school leavers achieving one or more passes in National Qualifications at SCQF L5 or better by SIMD (most deprived and least deprived)
A graph showing the percentage point gap between the most and least deprived secondary school leavers achieving one or more passes in National Qualifications at SCQF L5 or better
Chart 10. Percentage of secondary school leavers achieving one or more passes in National Qualifications at SCQF L6 or better at Scotland-level, by SIMD (most deprived and least deprived) and the gap
A graph showing the percentage of secondary school leavers achieving one or more passes in National Qualifications at SCQF L6 or better at Scotland-level
A graph showing the percentage of secondary school leavers achieving one or more passes in National Qualifications at SCQF L6 or better by SIMD (most deprived and least deprived)
A graph showing the percentage point gap between the most and least deprived secondary school leavers achieving one or more passes in National Qualifications at SCQF L6 or better
Chart 11. Percentage of senior phase secondary school leavers achieving five or more passes at SCQF L4 or better under the all SCQF measure at Scotland-level, by SIMD (most deprived and least deprived) and the gap
A graph showing the percentage of senior phase secondary school leavers achieving five or more passes at SCQF L4 or better under the all SCQF measure at Scotland-level
A graph showing the percentage of senior phase secondary school leavers achieving five or more passes at SCQF L4 or better under the all SCQF measure by SIMD (most deprived and least deprived)
A graph showing the percentage point gap between the most and least deprived senior phase secondary school leavers achieving five or more passes at SCQF L4 or better under the all SCQF measure
Chart 12. Percentage of senior phase secondary school leavers achieving five or more passes at SCQF L5 or better under the all SCQF measure at Scotland-level, by SIMD (most deprived and least deprived) and the gap
A graph showing the percentage of senior phase secondary school leavers achieving five or more passes at SCQF L5 or better under the all SCQF measure at Scotland-level
A graph showing the percentage of senior phase secondary school leavers achieving five or more passes at SCQF L5 or better under the all SCQF measure by SIMD (most deprived and least deprived)
A graph showing the percentage point gap between the most and least deprived senior phase secondary school leavers achieving five or more passes at SCQF L5 or better under the all SCQF measure
Chart 13. Percentage of senior phase secondary school leavers achieving five or more passes at SCQF L6 or better under the all SCQF measure at Scotland-level, by SIMD (most deprived and least deprived) and the gap
A graph showing the percentage of senior phase secondary school leavers achieving five or more passes at SCQF L6 or better under the all SCQF measure at Scotland-level
A graph showing the percentage of senior phase secondary school leavers achieving five or more passes at SCQF L6 or better under the all SCQF measure by SIMD (most deprived and least deprived)
A graph showing the percentage point gap between the most and least deprived senior phase secondary school leavers achieving five or more passes at SCQF L6 or better under the all SCQF measure
Chart 14. Percentage of 16-19 year olds participating in Education, Training or Employment at Scotland-level and by SIMD (most deprived and least deprived), 2025
A graph showing the percentage of 16-19 year olds participating in Education, Training or Employment at Scotland-level and by SIMD (most deprived and least deprived), 2025
Chart 15. Percentage of secondary school leavers in a positive initial destination at Scotland-level, by SIMD (most deprived and least deprived) and the gap
A graph showing the percentage of secondary school leavers in a positive initial destination at Scotland-level
A graph showing the percentage of secondary school leavers in a positive initial destination by SIMD (most deprived and least deprived)
A graph showing the percentage point gap between the most and least deprived secondary school leavers in a positive initial destination
Chart 16. Percentage attendance across all schools at Scotland-level, by SIMD (most deprived and least deprived) and the gap
A graph showing the percentage attendance across all schools at Scotland-level
A graph showing the percentage attendance across all schools by SIMD (most deprived and least deprived)
A graph showing the percentage point gap of attendance across all schools between the most and least deprived

Contact

Email: nationalimprovementframework@gov.scot

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