Improvements made in Highland numeracy and literacy

The percentage of Highland pupils achieving the expected Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) levels in both literacy and numeracy has increased for 2022/23.

The Scottish Government today released the official Achievement of Curriculum for Excellence Levels (ACEL) for literacy (reading, writing, listening & talking) and numeracy.

Highland has seen accelerated improvement compared to national trends and continues to close the gap to the national figures.

In Highland, literacy for P1, P4, P7 combined increased by 6% in 2022/23, and a total of 16% over the last two years. Numeracy has increased by 3% in 2022/23, and a total of 12% over the last two years.

At a year group level, improvements were made across the board in reading, writing, listening and talking, literacy, and numeracy for P1, P4 and P7.  Primary 1 improved the most for their stage in listening and talking and literacy with both increasing by 3%. Primary 4 made the greatest improvement of all year groups when compared to last year, improving by between 5% and 7% in every element with biggest increases in writing and literacy. Primary 7 also made a similar big improvement across every measure, with the largest increase of 7% in writing and 6% in literacy.

In Secondary, the percentage S3 pupils achieving fourth level literacy increased by 7% and numeracy by 6%.

Cllr John Finlayson, Chair of The Highland Council’s Education Committee celebrated this news, he said: “Highland’s results in this year’s ACEL statistics are very positive and show encouraging improvements for Highland over the last 2 years, with a 16% improvement in literacy and a 12% improvement in numeracy. I am also delighted for each child and young person who achieved successes in their numeracy and literacy attainment over the last year.

“In a week where we have seen trends of lowering attainment generally across the UK as a whole and Scotland in the PISA results, it is fantastic to see how attainment is rising so fast in the Highland area. It is great that when national trends are towards reductions in attainment, the Highland area can demonstrate that it is bucking these trends. The pace of improvement is well beyond that of the rest of Scotland, which is a great credit to our pupils and staff.

“Today’s results clearly demonstrate that learners across Highland are continuing to make progress in our schools and I'm pleased to see the ongoing narrowing of the attainment gap and especially the progress being made to close the poverty related attainment gap. This year’s results for Highland are the best set of results since this data collation began in 2016 and we will continue to give support to schools and learners to further close the attainment gap in the coming years.”

Nicky Grant, Executive Chief Officer for Education and Learning said: “We will continue to work together with our schools and communities on our collaborative improvement agenda, with a specific focus on achieving excellence and equity for all as an integral part of our raising attainment strategy. I would like to take the opportunity to thank all our staff, officers, parents, carers and of course our children for their work and achievements. This is a positive step forward in our raising attainment and achievement agenda and I look forward to future progress.”

Highland performance summary

• 74% of primary pupils achieved the expected CfE Level for Reading; increase of 3%.
• 68% of primary pupils achieved the expected CfE Level for Writing; increase of 5%.
• 84% of primary pupils achieved the expected CfE Level for Listening & Talking; increase of 4%.
• 65% of primary pupils achieved the expected CfE Level for Literacy; increase of 6%.
• 72% of primary pupils achieved the expected CfE Level for Numeracy; increase of 3%.
• 87% of S3 pupils achieved third level or better in literacy; increase of 4%.
• 48% of S3 pupils achieved fourth level or better in literacy; increase of 7%.
• 89% of S3 pupils achieved third level or better in numeracy.
• 61% of S3 pupils achieved fourth level or better in numeracy.

The poverty related attainment gap

• Primary attainment in Literacy for pupils from Highland’s most deprived areas increased by 10% and the gap narrowed by 4%.
• Primary attainment in numeracy for pupils from Highland’s most deprived areas increased by 6% and the gap narrowed by 5%.
• S3 attainment gap in Literacy for pupils from Highland’s most deprived areas narrowed by 2% for third level and 4% for fourth level.
• S3 attainment gap in numeracy for pupils from Highland’s most deprived areas narrowed by 5% for third level and 2% for fourth level.