Jenny Gilruth has targeted maths in curriculum overhaul

The data showed a continued upward trend, with primary and secondary students achieving the highest rates of literacy and numeracy attainment since ACEL data was first reported in 2016/17.

Ms Gilruth reported record highs across all grade levels and a shrinking attainment gap in the post-pandemic years.

But she also highlighted recent international PISA data, which reported an overall decline in maths, reading and science, as well as declining rates of pupil attendance and falling teachers numbers in Scotland.

Rather than focus on the highs, Ms Gilruth spent much of her statement discussing the room for improvement.

“The pandemic has had a profound impact on the attendance and achievement of Scotland’s young people.”

“This trajectory, be that on attendance, behaviour or in PISA, is not one that this government accepts.

“Education can only improve the life chances of young people who are supported and encouraged by their parents or carers to attend.”

Curriculum improvement cycle on the schedule

She announced a plan for a curriculum improvement cycle beginning in 2024, and with an initial focus on mathematics.

She hopes to renew focus in a few key areas: curriculum content, the role of knowledge, effective transitions between primary and secondary, and the alignment between broad general education and senior phase.

According to her plan, a 'maths specialist' will play a key role in the reform, which will include input from maths teachers, initial teacher educators and a maths national inspection which will report back in autumn 2024.

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Jenny Gilruth has targeted maths in curriculum overhaul

She went on to report that teacher numbers in Scotland have fallen by 0.3%.

Despite the relatively small drop, she added that the government had contributed £145 million to local authorities for maintaining teacher levels.

And she suggested that this funding could be withheld in the future.

“It is extremely disappointing that a number of local authorities did not choose to use the additional funding to protect their teacher numbers.”

“We’ve written today to each of the local authorities where the number of teachers has reduced to seek an explanation.

"Whilst the government will of course consider these reductions on a case-by-case basis, I will continue to reserve the right to withhold funding allocated to protect teacher numbers where that has not been the case.

“We cannot hope to improve attendance, behaviour or attainment with fewer teachers in our schools.”

Read more: Gilruth warns councils over falling teacher numbers

In connection to behaviour and attendance issues, Ms Gilruth renewed her suggestions that head teachers should 'consider all the evidence' when it comes to banning mobile phones.

“Where head teachers see fit they should use that power at their disposal. I do not have the power as cabinet secretary to enforce a national ban.

“I know of a number of schools where bans are working quite successfully in practice.

"There is also evidence to suggest from the United Nations that excessive use of digital devices in schools can actually detract from the quality of learning and teaching.”

Tory shadow education secretary Liam Kerr questioned Ms Gilruth over her ‘threat’ to withhold funding from local authorities who have not maintained their teacher numbers.

He also cited a rise in students with additional support needs (ASN) and asked how schools and local authorities will be supported.

READ MORE: Scotland's literacy and numeracy statistics explained

Labour’s education spokesperson, Pam Duncan Glancy called for more clarity on the process for the maths curriculum review and more specifics on how to address growing numbers of ASN pupils with adequate resources.

“Where there is a real lack of detail, is of children with ASN, despite their numbers increasing and that fewer of them reach expected levels of literacy and numeracy than others.”

Scottish Liberal Democrat education spokesperson Willie Rennie said that the ACEL data represents little progress on the poverty-related attainment gap.

“We were promised back in 2016 a significant improvement in the performance on education and the poverty-related attainment gap.

"In that context, these ACEL numbers have hardly budged at all.

"I’m disappointed that the only ambition now is to close the poverty-related attainment gap by a third by the end of this parliament when it was supposed to close completely.”