Progress in reducing poverty-related attainment gap in Moray schools

Councillors have acknowledged work to date and are seeking continued progress in tackling the poverty-related attainment gap in Moray schools.

A report to the Education, Children’s and Leisure Services Committee detailed work undertaken to improve pupil outcomes following the Covid-19 pandemic.

The period disrupted the learning of children and young people and had a disproportionate impact on young people who are affected by poverty.

The council’s commitment to equity in education is supported by the Scottish Government’s £200 million Scottish Attainment Challenge programme.

It supports children and young people impacted by poverty and funding through the Pupil Equity Fund (PEF), Strategic Equity Funding (SEF) and Care Experienced Children and Young People Fund (CECYP).

In Moray, SEF has been used to support two key projects in the Buckie and Elgin High School localities.

The project focus on supporting equity for all learners with particular attention on lower Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) deciles and improving achievement for all alongside strengthening primary-secondary school learning and wellbeing transition.

Working with social work colleagues, education officers are recruiting to the post of virtual school head teacher - a role already established within other local authorities – who will work with care experienced children and young people across schools and with multi-agency partners.  

Positive progress is being made against stretch aims – long-term goals setting higher than average targets - set in-line with Scottish Government and Education Scotland’s Framework for Recovery and Accelerating Progress.

• Stretch aim for one or more SCQF level 5 qualifications (SQA National AC pass) has been achieved, with a reduction in the poverty-related attainment gap from 2020/2021 in 2021/2022.
• Stretch aim for one or more SCQF level 6 qualifications (SQA National AC pass) has been achieved, with a decrease in the poverty-related attainment gap.
• While the Annual Participation Measure (APM) for 16-19 year olds has decreased slightly by 0.2% and is 0.8% below the national average, the poverty related attainment gap has narrowed by 1.7%.
• Positive leaver destinations are above all local authority comparators for the first time in five years.

Actions have been identified to improve progress in areas where performance remains below the national average and where the poverty-related attainment gaps has not reduced, including in attendance and exclusion.