Our schools go to the top of the class

Parents are all part of learning success

Parents who have worked with teachers to make sure no child misses out on school activities have helped pupils succeed.

Renfrewshire Council is the first local authority in Scotland to be rated excellent for its progress in improving learning, raising attainment and narrowing the poverty-related attainment gap as part of the Scottish Government’s Attainment Challenge.

Education Scotland published its inspection report yesterday showing year- on- year improvements in listening, talking, reading, writing and numeracy.

The report praises the “very successful” evidence- based, universal approach which sees support extended across all 62 primary, secondary and Additional Support Needs schools in Renfrewshire, a region where sadly 27 per cent of pupils live in Scotland’s most deprived areas.

Citing ‘highly effective leadership’, ‘excellent governance’ and a ‘shared vision’, it praised the culture where all staff are empowered to improve outcomes for pupils, their families and communities.

Renfrewshire Council depute leader Jim Paterson said: “This is an exceptional endorsement from Education Scotland and testament to the innovative way Renfrewshire is raising attainment for all children and young people while also closing the poverty related attainment gap.

“We are delighted that significant progress has been shown in both measures.

“Our success is down to a collective approach. Children and young people have gained belief in themselves and I want to thank them and their parents and carers for their effort and commitment to learning.

“Our Children’s Services team has, through outstanding governance and leadership, also provided the right support and created the space to allow schools to deliver high quality learning and teaching.

“And staff in schools have once again shown their commitment to doing the best for our children by committing the energy and drive to deliver innovative approaches which are changing the opportunities for Renfrewshire children both during their school years and for their choices when they leave school.”

Renfrewshire is one of nine councils picked by the Scottish Government to take part in its attainment challenge. As part of the challenge, the council has received £10.4million in Scottish Government funding since June 2016 and has achieved an 11 percentage point increase in expected levels of literacy and a five percentage point increase in expected levels of numeracy from 2015-2018.

Over the same period, the povertyrelated attainment gap has reduced by six percentage points in literacy and four percentage points in numeracy.

Some of the initiatives carried out by schools include pizza family learning where more than 300 family members enjoyed tea-time study sessions; and a Cost of the School Day Fund where parents and school staff work together to make sure all children can take part in school activities.

More than 3,800 pupils from 27 schools have also benefitted from the PATHS programme which develops self-control and has seen a significant reduction in anti-social behaviour. Strong relationships have been built between schools and parents to encourage greater family and parental engagement while inclusion support assistants are also on hand to help pupils struggling with attendance, school engagement or difficult home circumstances.

Deputy First Minister John Swinney congratulated Renfrewshire Council.

He said: “Improving the education and life chances of our children and young people is the defining mission of this government.

“Central to this is the Scottish Attainment Challenge which is supporting hundreds of schools to develop approaches to improve literacy, numeracy and health and well-being that help close the poverty-related attainment gap.

“I would like to congratulate Renfrewshire Council on becoming the first local authority in Scotland to be rated ‘excellent’ for their progress in closing the poverty- related attainment gap.

“It is clear that the close collaboration between their dedicated and empowered workforce and their wider school communities is having a significant and positive impact.

“These results are extremely encouraging.”

Children and young people have gained belief in themselves