Growing attainment gap

Nicola Sturgeon claimed two years ago that education is her top priority.

New figures on the literacy and numeracy levels of primary school children reveals that if education is the First Minister’s top priority, she is failing too many children.

The attainment gap between the richest and poorest children is growing at every stage in primary school.

In primary schools,1.67 per cent of the most deprived children achieved the literacy level required, compared with 86 per cent of this least deprived. The gap then increases to 22 per cent in Primary 4 and then 23 per cent in Primary 7.

That means that two in five children from the poorest backgrounds are leaving primary school without the literacy levels required.

It is well documented that the attainment gap develops in early years, from nursery to primary three, however for the gap in attainment to increase throughout school is simply inexcusable.

These stats are a consequence of more than £400 million cuts to schools across Scotland since 2010 and 3,000 fewer teachers under the SNP Scottish Government.

At the heart of these numbers are children, who already face significant disadvantage.

They need a government that will strive to improve their life chances, tackle the poverty they face and invest in their futures.