Education Attainment Gap in Scotland Continues to Widen
The academic achievement gap between students from disadvantaged and affluent backgrounds in Scotland is widening. According to the latest data, the disparity in attainment at National 4, National 5, and Higher levels increased further in the 2023-2024 academic year compared to the previous year. The Scottish government has prioritised reducing educational inequality since 2015, yet recent statistics indicate a setback in achieving this goal.
Scotland’s Education Secretary, Jenny Gilruth, claimed that the data "offers positive signals for the future", but acknowledged that educational inequality remains a significant challenge. Education experts argue that the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the education system has not yet been fully addressed, contributing to the widening attainment gap.
Professor Lindsay Paterson from the University of Edinburgh criticised the government’s approach, stating, "England and other countries have introduced education recovery programmes, but Scotland has failed to implement a similar strategy." Similarly, Miles Briggs, Education Spokesperson for the Scottish Conservative Party, accused the government of "abandoning students and teachers."
Officials have announced plans to introduce new measures to tackle educational inequality, yet experts stress the need for a more comprehensive and systematic approach to effectively close the attainment gap.