Dumfries and Galloway primary pupils are falling behind in attainment levels, a recent report has shown. Students in P1, P4, and P7 are trailing behind the Scottish national average in key areas of learning, including reading, writing, literacy, and numeracy. While assessments reveal some improvement in numerical skills by the time students reach S3 in high school, the overall trend is concerning.
These findings are part of a new attainment report scheduled to be presented at Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Nithsdale Area Committee. This report follows comments from a teaching representative who previously highlighted that the region’s attainment levels are suffering due to staffing shortages and limited resources.
The attainment summary report for the 2022/23 school year provides a detailed breakdown of achievement figures for primary schools in Nithsdale, comparing them with the Scottish national average. The report requires teachers to record and collect Curriculum for Excellence judgements for pupils in P1, P4, P7, and S3, covering reading, writing, listening, talking, and numeracy.
In 2022/23, Dumfries and Galloway P1 pupils achieved the following levels (Scottish national average figures in brackets): reading – 74.7% (80.6%); writing – 72.7% (78.4%); literacy – 68.5% (75.7%); numeracy – 78.1% (84.7%). P4 pupil attainment levels were as follows: reading – 70.8% (77.9%); writing – 63% (70%); literacy – 59.7% (69.7%); numeracy – 69.5% (76.9%). For P7 pupils, the results were: reading – 75.4% (80.3%); writing – 69% (75.2%); literacy – 65.5% (73%); numeracy – 73.7% (77.7%).
At a recent education committee meeting, a teacher from Gatehouse Primary School, Julie Irving, voiced concerns about the challenges educators face due to inadequate staffing. Irving highlighted the strain on teachers in managing pupil behaviour, impacting their ability to teach effectively and subsequently affecting attainment levels. She emphasised the need for more learning assistants to support teachers in the classroom.
These revelations underscore the urgent need for resources and support to improve educational outcomes for Dumfries and Galloway primary pupils. Addressing the root causes of these challenges, such as staffing shortages and resource limitations, is crucial to ensuring a positive and effective learning environment for students in the region. With a collaborative effort from educators, policymakers, and stakeholders, steps can be taken to uplift attainment levels and provide quality education for all students.