Scotland’s schools have recorded their strongest performance on literacy and numeracy since national measurements began, with new official statistics showing steady improvements in attainment, attendance and teacher numbers during the 2024–25 academic year.
The latest Achievement of Curriculum for Excellence Levels report confirms that primary pupils have reached their highest level ever in literacy, with 74.5% achieving the expected standard, while numeracy remains at last year’s record high of 80.3%, illustrating a continued upward trend after years of disruption and recovery work.
The picture in secondary schools is equally striking, with 89.8% of S3 pupils achieving the expected level in literacy and 90.9% in numeracy, both the strongest results on record and signalling that the core skills required for senior phase learning are being strengthened across the country.
The poverty-related attainment gap has also narrowed to its lowest level recorded at all stages, indicating that targeted support and long term investment in equity programmes are beginning to have measurable impact on outcomes for pupils facing disadvantage.
Alongside rising attainment, Scotland’s attendance rate has improved to 91% in 2024–25, up from 90.3% the previous year, with both authorised and unauthorised absences falling and persistent absenteeism reducing, marking a shift towards a more settled and stable school environment after the disruption of recent years.
Teacher numbers have also increased nationally, improving the pupil teacher ratio and contributing to a fall in average primary class sizes, while maintaining Scotland’s position as the part of the UK with the best paid teachers and the smallest class ratios.
Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth said:
“The Scottish Government has been determined to drive forward educational improvements in Scotland’s schools and these statistics show clear progress is being made across several measures.”
“Attainment levels are at record highs in literacy and numeracy following Scottish Government investment of £1.75 billion in the Scottish Attainment Challenge over the past decade aimed at improving outcomes for children and young people impacted by poverty.
“We know that better engagement leads to better outcomes, so it’s hugely encouraging to see the improvement in attendance and a fall in absences, including a noticeable reduction in persistent absence levels, after the work being done to address this since the pandemic.
“The rise in teacher numbers reflects our investment in the workforce, which means that Scotland continues to have the lowest pupil teacher ratio and the best paid teachers in the UK.
“We recognise there is more work needed to return these numbers to their 2023 levels and we will continue to work with councils towards this.
“This evidence further underlines the strong recovery we are seeing in schools following the pandemic, after this year’s national exam results showed the poverty related attainment gap narrowing at National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher levels.
“It is testament to the hard work of pupils, teachers and staff in schools and I am committed to working with them to deliver further improvements.”
As schools continue to stabilise and rebuild momentum, the figures suggest that long term structural investment, targeted support for the most disadvantaged and renewed focus on attendance are beginning to shift the national picture in a positive direction.
