Schools gap grows

Private pupils pulling further ahead of state kids in Highers results

THE attainment gap between state and private schools has widened, leaving the poorest pupils to ‘pay the price of the Government’s failure’, it was claimed yesterday.

Opposition parties attacked SNP ministers in the wake of figures showing pupils at private schools were much more likely to get top marks.

In these schools, more than three quarters (75.6 per cent) of pupils sitting Highers this year were awarded an A grade, up from 67 per cent the previous year, according to figures from the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA).

However, this result was only achieved by fewer than half (45.6 per cent) of all those sitting Higher exams at state schools, up from 38 per cent. This means the attainment gap between state and private schools grew from 29 per cent to 30 per cent between 2020 and 2021.

Looking at National 5 qualifications, the 2021 figures showed 76.9 per cent of those at independent schools achieved an A, while only 46.7 per cent of candidates at state schools got the top mark.

The pandemic meant formal exams were cancelled in Scotland for the second year in a row, with marks awarded on the basis of teacher judgment. However, many pupils still had to sit exam-like tests as part of this process.

Scottish Tory education spokesman Oliver Mundell said: ‘After 14 years of failure, the SNP have lost all ambition to close the widening attainment gap.

‘Pupils have already had to adapt to disrupted learning, and these latest figures confirm they are also coming up against an education system that delivers equity in name only.’

Labour education spokesman Michael Marra said the SQA figures showed that the ‘SNP and SQA designed a system’ for awarding grades which had ‘widened and ingrained Scotland’s already substantial attainment gap’. He added: ‘We have seen the most privileged pupils benefit, and the poorest lose out by design.

‘Far from closing the gap, they have made it worse, and it is the poorest pupils who pay the price of the Government’s failure.’

Lib Dem education spokesman Willie Rennie said the ‘education attainment gap is as wide as ever’.

He added: ‘That pupils in private schools secure far better results shows how much government has let down pupils and teachers in state schools.’

Scottish Green education spokesman Ross Greer was also critical, saying: ‘Last year’s exams shambles demonstrated that shocking levels of inequality are baked into Scottish education. They were not a one-off.’

A Scottish Government spokesman said last night: ‘We remain committed to closing the attainment gap and ensuring that every young person has the chance to fulfil their potential.

‘This year’s SQA results saw a narrower poverty-related attainment gap compared with 2019.

‘Progress has been made but we know there is more to do. That’s why we are investing a further £1billion to help to close the attainment gap.’

‘Delivers equity in name only’