A flagship education fund aimed at helping young people from more
deprived areas has helped broaden opportunities to learn beyond
the classroom and improved outcomes in a range of areas, a new
report has found.
The Attainment Scotland Fund (ASF) has helped narrow the poverty
related attainment gap for primary and secondary literacy and
numeracy to record lows, the latest evaluation report shows. The
gap in young people leaving school and going onto a positive
destination after school has reduced by almost two-thirds since
2009-10.
The funding supports the Scottish Attainment Challenge (SAC) and
will provide up to £200 million in 2026-27, building on the
almost £1.75 billion already invested since it was launched in
2015.
Opportunities for young people, including care experienced young
people, have increased as a result of the ASF which has delivered
strong foundations to improve outcomes for children affected by
poverty, the evaluation concludes, with further progress required
to deliver more consistent and sustained improvement.
Education Secretary said:
“The Scottish Government has invested almost £1.75 billion in the
Scottish Attainment Challenge since its inception in 2015 and
this report shows that clear progress is being made to help
improve outcomes for children and young people impacted by
poverty.
“Last summer's exam results for 2024-25 and more recent
statistics also underline the strong recovery we are seeing in
schools following the pandemic. The poverty-related attainment
gap is narrowing at National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher
levels, with record low poverty-related attainment gaps for
literacy and numeracy in Scotland's primary and secondary
schools.
"There has been strong progress made on widening access to higher
education no matter a young person's background or circumstance,
with record levels of 18-year-olds from deprived areas securing
places at university, who will benefit from free tuition.
“We know there is more to be done, and that is why the Scottish
Government is investing up to £200 million in the Scottish
Attainment Challenge programme in next year's budget, including
Pupil Equity Funding to schools, to ensure continued progress.”
Background
The evaluation report is
based on existing National Improvement Framework (NIF) measures,
as well as surveys undertaken with local authorities, case
studies carried out in schools across, as well as a series of
interviews with national stakeholders.
