Three-quarters of headteachers believe Scotland’s attainment gap has started to close, and almost all expect to see progress in the next five years as a result of national funding, according to Scottish government research published today.

However, the research also finds that teacher recruitment problems are hampering progress, and there is frustration in some areas about the level of bureaucracy and tight timescales in accessing the Attainment Scotland Fund, which targeted £52 million at schools in the most deprived areas.

The 171-page report on the first two years of the fund states: “A significant challenge for local authorities and schools was around the recruitment of staff. This put extra pressure on schools and impacted negatively on the success of planned interventions, leading to frustration and underspend.”

The report highlights a common warning from schools that poverty must be addressed, instead of just relying on education to close the gap between disadvantaged pupils and their more affluent peers.

Progress in secondary ‘more limited’

It also states that, while there has been “considerable progress” made in primary schools - including “strong foundations being built around leadership, resources and training of the workforce” - the “progress in the secondary programme was more limited”.

The fund initially targeted the primary sector, before being expanded into the secondary sector.

A significant minority of headteachers - 18 per cent in 2015-16 and 23 per cent last year - reported that participation in the fund had led to “unintended negative consequences”.

For example, teachers and local authorities said that “the fund had caused a potential division between those benefitting from additional resources and those [who did] not”.

The report on the fund - money from which went to nine “challenge authorities” and 74 additional schools with the highest levels of deprivation - also reveals that:

• 78 per cent of surveyed headteachers saw improvements in tackling the attainment gap in literacy, numeracy and health and wellbeing as a result of the fund;
• 97 per cent of heads expect to see improvements over the next five years as a result of the attainment funding;
• There is wide support for the aims of the fund, with schools reporting greater collaboration and a focus on improving teaching skills and practice

Deputy first minister and education secretary John Swinney said: “The defining mission of this government is to raise school attainment and close the poverty-related gap, backed by £750 million of investment over the lifetime of this Parliament.

“It is heartening to see that progress is beginning to be made. For example, Dundee’s attainment gap in reading narrowed between the first and second years of the fund. These are great results which show our course of action is the right one.”

He added: “I acknowledge the challenges to progress that exist and have been identified by schools and local authorities. We have already taken action to address these and will continue to listen to feedback.”

The government said the report would “contribute to the Scottish evidence base around what works or does not work to improve attainment and close the attainment gap”.

The report does not include any evaluation of Pupil Equity Funding (PEF).

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