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The Scottish Government defines the poverty-related attainment gap as the gap in attainment between children and young people living in the most and least parts of the country based on Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) data. The most affluent being those living in SIMD quintile 1; and the least in SIMD quintile 5.

It is important to be able to measure the impact of the system on progress towards closing the poverty-related attainment gap. That is why in 2017, the Scottish Government consulted on proposals for measuring the poverty-related attainment gap and milestones towards closing it, focusing on the impact of the education system as a whole and using a range of 11 measures that reflect key stages of the learner journey and the breadth of issues that can impact on attainment.

These measures are:

1. 27-30 month review (children showing no concerns across all domains)

2. HWB: Children total difficulties score (age 4-12)

3. HWB: Children total difficulties score (age 13&15)

4. Primary - Literacy (P1, P4, P7 combined)

5. Primary - Numeracy (P1, P4, P7 combined)

6. Secondary - Literacy (S3, 3rd level or better)

7. Secondary - Numeracy (S3, 3rd level or better)

8. SCQF 4 or above (1 or more on leaving school)

9. SCQF 5 or above (1 or more on leaving school)

10. SCQF 6 or above (1 or more on leaving school)

11. Participation measure

We identified eleven key measures to assess progress as part of the National Improvement Framework , along with associated stretch aims. We held a further consultation in summer 2022 which resulted in two new key measures being added for 2023.

Those measures are:

1. School Attendance

2. Initial Positive destination

The intention is for the Scottish Qualifications Authority to continue to operate at the time of the 2024 and 2025 exam diets, with the new qualifications body being established in late 2025, after the 2025 exam diet.

The new body will therefore be responsible for overseeing the 2026 exam diet.

The SQA will oversee the exam diet in 2025. Legislation establishing the new qualifications body will be introduced this parliamentary year enabling the new qualifications body to be established in late 2025.

The Teacher Workforce Planning Advisory Group (TWPAG) considerations are based on an annual statistical model which estimates the number of ITE students required to achieve particular pupil teacher ratios. TWPAG includes representatives from local authority employers, as well as university providers of ITE, teacher unions and the General Teaching Council for Scotland.

TWPAG’s considerations are based on annual statistical model which estimates the number of ITE students required to maintain pupil teacher ratios. This model is based on a number of inputs including projections about the number of pupils in the system, churn in teacher numbers (for example recruitment, maternity leave, retirements, returners,) and the retention rates of ITE students.

To ensure effective and evidence-informed longer-term teacher workforce planning, the Scottish Government has commissioned an external analysis and research exercise that will bring together a range of factors including current teacher numbers, pupil teacher ratios and the projected decline in the number of school-aged children. This analysis will inform decisions on education workforce planning for future years.

The Scottish Government appreciates the important contribution that rural music festivals such as Lammermuir Festival can make to Scotland’s music sector.

Creative Scotland provides funding for rural music festivals (classed as those not held in cities and with a focus on music) through their Regularly Funded Organisations and Open Funding streams. In 2022-23 they have supported 17 rural music festivals, using both Scottish Government and National Lottery funding to a total of £394,474. This does not include further support that is given to multi-art form festivals that include elements of music in their programming.

In addition the Scottish Government has provided £150,000 to Culture & Business Scotland for their Culture and Business Fund, which promotes collaboration between Scottish businesses and arts and heritage organisations to deliver new arts and heritage projects. Recipients in previous years have included rural music festivals.

The Scottish Government does not hold this information. Individual local authorities may gather this data.

The Scottish Government commissions six-monthly reports from local authorities on school counselling services which asks for number of young people accessing counselling, broken down by gender and year groups. The reports also seek information on outcomes, inward and outward referrals as well as the issues young people are presenting with.

Within the reporting form there is a free text box where authorities are encouraged to share additional information, such as information on waiting times if they have that data available. Although some authorities have reported that services are at capacity, no concerns have been raised about young people’s needs not being met.

The Scottish Government is committed to introducing a Bill on ending conversion practices in Scotland. A public consultation containing detailed proposals for legislative change will be published by the end of this calendar year. The consultation will allow us to provide clear and detailed information on our proposed approach in order to obtain views from stakeholders and the broader public.

In developing our proposals we are carefully considering a wide range of evidence and expert advice. This includes the report of the Scottish Parliament’s Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee and the report and recommendations of the Expert Advisory Group set up by the Scottish Government.

Launched in April 2023, the first public procurement strategy for Scotland articulates a high-level vision and roadmap for Scottish public procurement. A copy of that strategy can be accessed on the Scottish Government’s website at Public procurement strategy: 2023 to 2028 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

There is a multifaceted approach to monitor the effectiveness and impact of procurement policy and practice in Scotland, informing continuous improvement. This approach includes:

• publishing the Scottish Ministers annual report on procurement, evidencing the impact of procurement activity across Scotland
• researching and evaluating evidence to measure and benchmark our impact, to inform opportunities for improvement and to address emerging challenges
• engaging with businesses of all shapes and sizes to underpin our policy development and implementation
• benchmarking our policies and practices domestically and internationally
• regularly reviewing, testing and refreshing our tools and guidance
• taking cognisance of external scrutiny.

It is by focusing on what the evidence is telling us, responding to that evidence, and by working together with public, private and third sector organisations, that we will maximise the impact of public procurement for communities across Scotland.

The Scottish Government has collected six-monthly reports from local authorities on school counselling services since January 2021.

The number of young people that accessed the service in each period, broken down by local authority can be found below. It is acknowledged that some young people accessed the service in multiple periods so may be recorded twice.

The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) are currently working with the sector to better identify those who leave college, including those who move on to work opportunities or other positive destinations. This work is ongoing and the information will be made available by SFC through Official Statistics products in due course.