Education Committee Members updated on attainment within Highland schools

Members had the opportunity at today’s Education Committee to discuss an ‘Improving Outcomes for Young People’ report which included a summarisation of the attainment of senior pupils undertaking learning through the Highland Virtual Academy (HVA).

The HVA is an initiative which enhances the curriculum for Highland schools by allowing young people access to Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) courses which are unavailable in individual schools.

For the 2019/20 school session, 18 courses were available via the HVA and pupils were enrolled from across 23 secondary schools.  The data highlighted many success stories, with top grades being achieved by young people who, without the HVA, would not have been able to gain these qualifications at all.  Overall, the HVA achieved a pass rate of 95% in its SQA courses.

Cllr John Finlayson, Chair of the Education Committee, said: “We welcome the positive attainment outcomes covered in today’s committee paper, and look forward to the continued expansion of our Highland Virtual Academy.  We are also very encouraged by the plans for Officers, and, in the future, Head Teachers, to engage with Members about school attainments and achievements.”

Members were also updated on plans for Education Officers to attend Ward meetings to present attainment statistics and other information relevant to secondary schools within the area. Key measures which will be reported back to Members for the secondary schools located within their Ward include attainment in literacy and numeracy as well overall attainment, alongside information about leavers’ post-school destinations.

A further update on SQA attainment across Highland schools will be provided for Members at a future meeting once national data is released, allowing attainment in Highland schools to be compared with that of young people in other parts of the country.

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