There is an unacceptable attainment gap for young deaf Scots learners.

That is the fundamental issue at the heart of the deaf learners conference being held in Glasgow on Wednesday - the first of its kind.

Between 2011/2 and 2012/13 the proportion of pupils leaving with no qualifications went down from 1.1 per cent to 0.9 per cent according to Scottish Government figures.

Not only are deaf children around nine times more likely to do so, the figures are going in the wrong direction: 8.2 per cent left with no qualifications in 2011/12, which rose to 9.8 per cent the following year.

Fewer hearing impaired pupils go in to higher education - that figure fell sharply from 26.5 per cent of deaf school leavers in 2011 to 21.8 per cent in 2012.

This is a snapshot, and it is probably worth pointing out that while they are underrepresented at universities deaf learners are overrepresented in further education. Meanwhile of those who do leave school with exam passes, the number achieving highers is going up.

Nevertheless, it is clear that there are significant barriers affecting many of the 3500 deaf children estimated to be in Scotland by the National Deaf Children's Society, which is hosting the conference.

With around 70 deaf secondary pupils expected to attend the event, it will be partly geared to finding out what they think those barriers are.

They are likely to include concerns about the inclusion policy which sees 80 per cent of deaf learners taught in mainstream schools. While most educational experts, and NDCS, support this approach, it needs to be properly resourced to meet the needs of pupils with additional needs. NDCS fear this resourcing is far from consistent across Scotland.

There are more than 200 teachers of the deaf in Scotland, but one third are not qualified, and 10% are due to retire in the next 10 years.

Heather Gray, NDCS director points out that as the number of deaf pupils is relatively small, any individual pupil is likely to be the only one in their school, and their teacher will be visiting, rather than permanently based with them.

Building confidence in the young people themselves - from confidence in their abilities, to the awareness to demand what they are entitled to is crucial, Gray says. This week's event features a number of role models who will help attendees with both. They include deaf olympic swimmer Danielle Joyce.

NCDS has also asked education secretary Angela Constance for a national review of education provision for deaf learners, with the goal of setting national standards for deaf education.