Calls for education funding

A large gap remains between attainment levels of the most and least deprived pupils in Renfrewshire, new figures show.

The Scottish Government has made reducing the gap between the most and least well-off pupils its key education mission, logging achievements in Curriculum for Excellence in primaries one, four and seven, as well as S3.

The curriculum breaks achievement down into four levels, spread across literacy, numeracy, listening and talking, writing and reading, between the start of primary school and S3.

In several of these indicators for 2021/22, the poverty-related gap in Renfrewshire was found to be 20 per cent or more between the most and least deprived pupils.

This high attainment gap can be seen for literacy (P1, P7 and S3 pupils) and for writing (P4 and P7 pupils).

The poverty-related gap for P7 pupils in Renfrewshire earning the second level in numeracy was 23.8 per cent, compared with a national average of 19.3 per cent.

For S3 pupils earning the third level or better, the attainment gap in the area was wider than the Scottish average for all indicators apart from numeracy.

West Scotland MSP Katy Clark, whose remit includes Renfrewshire, said the “alarming” statistics reveal the scale of the challenge in supporting schools and reducing inequality.

The Labour politician added: “The Scottish Government said closing the attainment gap would be its defining mission.

“Instead, funding targeted at the most deprived local authorities, which includes Renfrewshire, has been slashed to the bone.

“The fact is the attainment gap remains higher than it was before the pandemic.

“Serious investment is needed to address this national scandal which affects our poorest children.”

Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said she recognises that attainment levels are “still largely below pre-pandemic levels.”

“We know that the impact of the pandemic – compounded by the current cost-of-living crisis – means children and young people need our support now more than ever,” she added.

“We are determined to do all we can to ensure they can reach their full potential, including a record investment of £1billion over this parliamentary term in the Scottish Attainment Challenge.”