Attainment gap closes in schools

All of our children and young people have immense potential and we want them to have the same opportunities to succeed... regardless of their postcode.

The Achievement of Curriculum for Excellence levels (ACEL) data charts P1, P4, P7 and S3 learners’ progress across CfE levels in reading, writing, listening and talking, literacy and numeracy.

Lowest level to date

Statistics for 2023/24 published on 10 December found that the attainment gap in East Lothian reduced across all primary school stages to its lowest level to date for both literacy (22.5 percentage points) and numeracy (19.8 pp). Achievement rates for those in the county’s most deprived areas are at their highest rates to date (55% for literacy and 64% for numeracy).

At S3, the attainment gap reduced to its lowest level since 2018/19 for both literacy (11.8 pp) and numeracy (21.4 pp). Achievement rates in 2023/24 for those living in the most deprived areas were also at their highest level since 2018/19 (76% for literacy and 69% for numeracy).

Achievement rates

The ACEL data for East Lothian shows:

• more P1 pupils achieved the expected CfE level for their stage compared to pupils in P4 and P7 across all measures except reading
• achievement rates for P7 pupils were at their highest level to date for reading, writing, literacy and numeracy
• it remains the case that CfE achievement across all levels and components was highest amongst pupils from the least deprived areas compared to their peers living in the most deprived areas
• P1, P7 and S3 learners from the most deprived areas recorded their highest achievement rates across all components since 2020/21. An attainment gap still exists at P4, although this has narrowed since 2021/22 at literacy.

'Cornerstones of our curriculum'

Cabinet member for Education and Children’s and Family Services Councillor Fiona Dugdale said: “Reading, writing, literacy and numeracy are the cornerstones of our curriculum so I’m very pleased to see the outcomes from our focused work to increase achievement and reduce the attainment gap.

“Educational achievement offers a range of benefits throughout life and is even associated with better health outcomes and life expectancy. All of our children and young people have immense potential and we want them to have the same opportunities to succeed in their chosen path regardless of their postcode.

“Our authority is taking a robust approach to measuring progress across all levels throughout the year. Tracking data is shared and discussed with schools every month so that they can identify positive approaches that will support children and young people to learn.

“This data is very welcome news for all our staff and learners. I look forward to building on these results to close the attainment gap in East Lothian for all children and young people.”