Moray schools show encouraging progress as councillors back independent review
An independent review of educational attainment in Moray has been approved by Moray Council's Education, Children's and Leisure Services Committee as part of ongoing efforts to accelerate improvement and ensure the best possible outcomes for children and young people.
The decision comes as new reports show positive progress across Moray's schools, with improvements in attainment, attendance and efforts to reduce the poverty-related attainment gap.
As previously reported, the review will provide an independent assessment of attainment and achievement across Moray's education system, examining areas including learning and teaching, leadership, curriculum pathways, tracking and monitoring arrangements, and opportunities to share effective practice more widely across schools. The initial focus will be on secondary education and the senior phase.
The latest National Improvement Framework report also highlights progress across a range of key indicators. Literacy attainment increased across all primary measures, numeracy improved across all primary measures, attendance rose across primary schools, and positive progress was made in senior phase attainment. Most significantly, Moray reduced the poverty-related attainment gap in six of nine key measures, demonstrating continued progress towards greater educational equity.
Chair of the Education, Children's and Leisure Services Committee, Cllr Kathleen Robertson, said: “We're seeing encouraging signs that the hard work taking place in our schools is making a difference. Improvements in literacy, numeracy, attendance and exam attainment show that learners, teachers, support staff and school leaders are all helping to move Moray in the right direction.
“At the same time, we know there is more to do. We want every child and young person in Moray to have the opportunity to achieve their full potential, regardless of their background or circumstances. Approving this independent review is about making sure we learn from what is working well, identify where we can improve further and accelerate the pace of progress across the whole education system.”
The National Improvement Framework report and plan, also approved by the committee, will now be submitted to the Scottish Government. It sets out the council's priorities for the year ahead, including continued focus on leadership, wellbeing and inclusion, curriculum development, and improving learning, teaching and assessment.
Findings from the independent review, along with recommendations and proposed actions, will be reported to a future meeting of the Education, Children's and Leisure Services Committee.