Thread by @DeanMThomson

Since FMQs had the FM boasting about 'progress' made on closing the attainment gap, I've made a thread on the subject. The goals #ScotGov set itself, and the realities of where we've ended up.
[1/17]

What is the 'attainment gap'?

In Scotland school pupils from most deprived areas do significantly worse at every level of education on average, compared to least deprived areas. This is what is meant by 'the attainment gap'.

You can see why it's an important problem. [2/17]

In a speech to Holyrood in May 25th 2016 the FM said:

"I want our work to close the attainment gap to be the mission, not just of this government or even parliament, but of the country as a whole"

So has she succeeded in closing the attainment gap in education? [3/17]

The short answer is no. Audit Scotland describes the situation as follows:

➡️the attainment gap remains wide
➡️we need better education data

Of course we might wonder why the SNP gov't isn't collecting enough education data to provide a comprehensive overview. [4/17]

In fairness the pandemic has had an impact. But, Audit Scotland shows a lack of education funding which should worry.

Funding for education rose from £4.1 billion in 2013/14 to £4.3 billion in 2018/19. But most of this real-terms increase is due to their Attainment Fund. [5/17]

Nicola Sturgeon: "We will expand our Attainment Fund and invest an additional £750m over this parliament, specifically targeted at closing the attainment gap"

Not only has the fund failed to close the gap, but it is disguising anaemic real-terms education funding rises.[6/17]

Further, a report by Professor Jim Scott of Dundee University in 2019 found "evidence of sustained trends of decline in overall attainment at SCQF levels 3-6 coinciding with the introduction of CfE and nNQs,"

So, SNP's flagship 'Curriculum for Excellence' is in the frame [7/17]

Here is a specific example of the continuation of the attainment gap via percentage of S3 pupils achieving CfE 3rd level by deprivation. While there has been some improvement, the gap is stubbornly still present.

Here is the statistics table for 'reading'[8/17]

Here it is for 'Writing' [9/17]

And here it is for 'Literacy' [10/17]

Not forgetting 'Numeracy' [11/17]

And finally 'Talking & Listening' [12/17]

"As I have already made clear, the defining mission of this government will be education" - Nicola Sturgeon, FM, May 25th 2016.

I put it to all of you: she has failed in her defining mission, at least regarding closing the attainment gap. [13/17]

"If the Scottish people re-elect me to be First Minister, then I will continue the work that we have been doing over the five years to improve attainment, and close the attainment gap" - Nicola Sturgeon at FMQs 24th March 2021. [14/17]

Ms Sturgeon was Deputy FM 2007-2014 & was Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing. Since 2014 she has been FM.

If she & the SNP have not managed to close the attainment gap in 14 years, why trust her & them to do so now? [15/17]

Sources: [16/17]
i] Sturgeon 'Priorities for Government' 2016 speech: gov.scot/publications/f…
ii] Audit Scotland 23 March Report: audit-scotland.gov.uk/news/attainmen…
iii] Prof Jim Scott 2019 report: academia.edu/40840793/Widen…

iv] 'Curriculum for Excellence levels 2018-19 [17/17] gov.scot/publications/a…
v] The Ferret: theferret.scot/ffs-explains-s…