This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Pupil attainment survey
26/06/2006
Most pupils are performing at or above the literacy and numeracy levels expected for their age, according to attainment results published today.
The strongest results are from pupils in P3 and P5, most of whom will have benefited from two years of high quality pre-school education.
Pupils are showing progression through levels up into S2, with many reaching levels above the age expected, but in S2 a smaller proportion are meeting the expected levels for their age than in the early years of primary.
The Scottish Survey of Achievement (SSA), a new survey designed to assess pupil attainment in primary and early secondary, shows that:
- In P3 and P5 the overwhelming majority of pupils are achieving expected levels in literacy and numeracy, with many achieving the levels expected of those one or two years older
- In P7 over three-quarters of pupils are achieving expected levels in numeracy, falling to just under three-quarters in reading, again with many achieving levels in both numeracy and literacy above their age
- In S2 more than two-thirds of pupils are achieving expected levels in literacy and numeracy, again with many reaching levels above their age
Education Minister Peter Peacock said:
"It is important we know how our schools system is performing and this new survey, the first we have undertaken, is designed to give us a benchmark to allow us to track performance across many pupils over time.
"Literacy and numeracy are at the heart of success and a vital part of early learning. These are particulary strong results in the early and mid years of primary and all pupils thereafter are progressing up through the levels to S2.
"Many pupils are performing at least at a level above their expected level, but a greater proportion are meeting the expected levels for their age in primary than in S2.
"While I am pleased that not only are most achieving success at the level expected for their age, many are performing at levels above that expected of their age. The survey also confirms past evidence that a greater proportion are reaching the expected levels in primary than in S2.
"It is for precisely that reason that we are recruiting more teachers to reduce class sizes in English and aths to 20 in S1 and S2 and give stronger support for learning at this crucial stage of transition for pupils. It is also why we are making significant changes to the curriculum in S1-S3 in particular. The survey confirms our policy approach is targeted correctly.
"I am very pleased that all the effort we have put into helping our youngest pupils to improve their literacy and numeracy skills seem to be making a real difference.
"Our challenge is to see the very positive results and high skills our younger children are now getting, maintained right through their schooling.
"For those pupils who are facing barriers to their learning, for whatever reason, and not reaching expected levels of performance, our Additional Support for Learning Act gives a new framework for them to get the extra support they need to push their performance along.
"My officials will be discussing the detailed findings of the survey with professionals across the education community over coming months and we will repeat the survey in English language and core skills in three years to monitor progress. Such surveys, over time, allow us to learn more about the performance of our pupils and plan policies to ensure continued success."
The Scottish Survey of Achievement (SSA) is the system for measuring pupils' performance. It used a representative sample survey of around 28,000 pupils from around 1,300 schools to test achievement.
The 2005 survey covered English language and core skills, including numeracy. The surveys in 2006, 2007 and 2008 will cover social subjects (enquiry skills), science and maths, with core skills included.
The 2005 survey reports on attainment in reading and numeracy in half of Scotland's local authorities. The 2006 survey will report on attainment in reading and numeracy in the remaining 16 areas.