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HM Inspectors evaluate the quality of education in Scottish schools using quality indicators. 'How good is our school? (4th edition)’ has been in use since September 2016.

HM Inspectors use a six-point scale to grade individual quality indicators. There are two models of inspection, one in which two quality indicators are graded, and one where four quality indicators are graded. The information provided includes grades assigned for both models of inspection.

The information previously provided (PQ reference - S6W-27327 on 17 May 2024) related to grades assigned during inspections carried out using the current framework, 'How good is our school? (4th edition). The information did not include details of inspections carried out in academic year 2023-24 where fieldwork has been carried out, but the report is not yet published. All inspection reports for inspections carried out in 2023-24 have now been published and the data updated.

HM Inspectors evaluate the quality of education in Scottish schools using quality indicators. 'How good is our school? (4th edition)’ has been in use since September 2016.

HM Inspectors use a six-point scale to grade individual quality indicators. There are two models of inspection, one in which two quality indicators are graded, and one where four quality indicators are graded. The information provided includes grades assigned for both models of inspection.

The information previously provided (PQ reference - S6W-27327) related to grades assigned during inspections carried out using the current framework, 'How good is our school? (4th edition). The information did not include details of inspections carried out in academic year 2023-24 where fieldwork had been carried out, but the reports are not yet published. All inspection reports for inspections carried out in 2023-24 have now been published and the data updated.

The Distress Brief Intervention Programme provides tailored one to one support across a period of up to around 14 days. Some people will only require one phone call whereas others may need more support across the 14 days including background work for resources and signposting. Overall, of those who engage with the programme, more than 80% of people go on to receive further support beyond one phone call across the 14 day period.

Table 1 shows the specific numbers of people who received support across the 14 day period. This is broken down by health and social care partnership areas and small numbers have been suppressed. The data available was between June 2020 and May 2024.

Table 1 – Number of individuals who received DBI support by H&SCP

The ability to re-refer is part of the current structure of the Distress Brief Intervention programme. Data is not held within individual years for multiple referrals but data about multiple referrals overall has been provided below. Data beyond January 2023 will be available after spring 2025.

The programme was initially piloted in Lanarkshire, Aberdeen city, Inverness City and Scottish Borders. Data for these areas is available between 1st November 2018 to 31st January 2023 and is outlined in Table 1. Data for the subsequent rollout across the remaining health and social care partnerships is available between 1st July 2019 to 31st January 2023 and is outlined in Table 2.

For the National Pathways (NHS 24, Scottish Ambulance Service and Police Scotland), data is available between May 2020 to the end of January 2023. In this time, 12,649 individuals were referred. Of these, 1,044 people (8.3%) had 2 referrals and 473 people (3.7%) had 3 or more referrals.

Table 1 – Referral numbers for pilot areas (November 2018 to January 2023)

In setting up of the DBI pilot programme in 2017, the Scottish Government created a dedicated DBI Central team to support and monitor implementation of this innovative programme. The Central team works closely with Public Health Scotland to provide monitoring reports to Government (and wider partners), and this evidence has informed the expansion of the programme across Scotland over the last eight years.

In addition to routine monitoring, the Government has commissioned two independent evaluations of the DBI programme to review its impact. The first evaluation relates to the original pilot phase of DBI (for over 18s) Distress Brief Intervention Pilot Programme evaluation: findings report - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) and the second relates to the NHS24 expansion https://www.gov.scot/publications/evaluation-extended-distress-brief-intervention-programme-summary-findings/

Both evaluations confirmed that DBI is a highly effective model in supporting people in distress, with 90% reporting that their distress levels continued to decrease and that they felt it had given them the tools and skills to manage their distress. Additionally, evaluation suggests that, in around 10% of referrals, DBI support has helped prevent suicidal thoughts, or even suicide. Additionally, feedback from frontline services suggests that DBI helps ensure they can help people to access the support they need, easing pressure on frontline services.

A further independent evaluation, relating to how effective DBI is for under 18s, is underway, and is expected to report to the Scottish Government in June 2025.

To enable a smooth expansion of the DBI programme, we have used improvement science and an active learning approach.

The DBI programme has now supported over 78,000 people across Scotland (as of November 2024).

In total, between June 2020 and May 2024, initial contact was not made within 24 hours for 216 people out of 58,657 referrals (less than 0.4%). The following table breaks this down by percentage due to the small number of cases in each area.

Scotland’s first Rapid Cancer Diagnostic Services (RCDSs) – established within existing NHS infrastructure – are operational in NHS Ayrshire and Arran, NHS Dumfries and Galloway NHS Fife, NHS Lanarkshire and NHS Borders.

Our Programme for Government has committed to establishing a further Rapid Cancer Diagnostic Service in NHS Forth Valley, bringing our national total to six. It is expected the RCDS in NHS Forth Valley will start accepting referrals by Spring 2025.

Colleagues in the Centre for Sustainable Delivery continue to engage with Health Boards across NHS Scotland and regional cancer networks, such as the North Cancer Alliance, to extend Rapid Cancer Diagnostic Services. We are committed to achieving population based coverage by 2026.

A clinical refresh of the Scottish Referral Guidelines for Suspected Cancer is currently underway to help ensure the right person is on the right pathway at the right time. The guidelines are due to be published in Spring 2025. A new guideline will now be included for those patients presenting with symptoms that do not follow the specific tumour referral pathways, ensuring that patients across NHS Scotland who present with non-specific symptoms of cancer will have a clear Urgent Suspicion of Cancer referral route. This non-specific symptom guideline is closely aligned to the referral route for those who are referred to a Rapid Cancer Diagnostic Service (RCDS).

The Scottish Government does not hold this information. We are working with PHS to collate RCDS data with a view to publishing in the future.

The draft Budget 2025-26 includes £5m of funding for Coastal Change to be included in the General Capital Grant provided to local authorities.

It is Scottish Government’s policy to allow local authorities the financial freedom to operate independently. The vast majority of funding is provided by means of a block grant. It is then the responsibility of individual local authorities to manage their own budgets on the basis of local needs and priorities, having first fulfilled their statutory obligations and the jointly agreed set of national and local priorities.

It is Scottish Government’s policy to allow local authorities the financial freedom to operate independently. The vast majority of funding is provided by means of a block grant. It is then the responsibility of individual local authorities to manage their own budgets on the basis of local needs and priorities, having first fulfilled their statutory obligations and the jointly agreed set of national and local priorities.

As part of the monitoring for the third Scottish national Adaptation Plan (SNAP3), the number of published Coastal Change Adaptation Plans will be monitored. The outputs of the Coastal Change Adaption Fund case studies are shared on the Dynamic Coast website and webinars on coastal change are held so the knowledge is shared across key stakeholders.