Attainment of 202223 School Leavers ECSPB

Renfrewshire Council · 14 March 2024
Back to Education and Children's Services Policy Board — 14 March 2024 and its agenda

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___________________________________________________________________
To:  Education and Children’s Services Policy Board
On:  14 March 2024
___________________________________________________________________
Report by: Director of Children’s Services
___________________________________________________________________
Heading: Attainment of 2022/23 School Leavers
________________________________________________________________
1. Summary
1.1. INSIGHT is a performance evaluation tool provided by the Scottish Government
to schools and education authorities as a way of benchmarking performance in
four key measures. This report will provide data and commentary across these
measures for the 2022/23 leavers cohort. 
1.2. The time period covered by these statistics means that the results will be
affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The 2022/23 school leavers
have experienced significant disruption in their learning. This is the first cohort
since the pandemic who are not impacted by the cancellation of exams in 2020
however their results do include the alternative certification model in 2021. The
impact of this disruption and different approaches to certification for previous
leavers cohorts means that care should be taken when making comparisons
over time.
______________________________________________________________ 
2. Recommendations 
2.1. Members of the Education and Children’s Services Policy Board are asked to
note:
 the content of this report; and

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 the efforts of our young people and the school communities in bringing
about these results.
________________________________________________
Background
3.1. INSIGHT is a performance evaluation tool provided by the Scottish Government
to schools and education authorities as a way of benchmarking performance in
four key measures: 
 attainment in literacy and numeracy;
 improving attainment for all;
 attainment versus deprivation; and
 leavers’ destinations.
3.2. This report will provide data and commentary on the performance of the
2022/23 leavers cohort in these four key measures. A leavers cohort includes
all pupils that left school within a year, regardless of the stage they were at
when they left school. 
3.3. The time period covered by these statistics means that the results will be
affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Within the 2022/23 cohort
are S6 pupils who underwent alternative certification within the 2021 diet.
Pupils leaving in S4 and S5 have only been presented in exam diet years
however have also had their learning significantly impacted by school closures.
When comparing to previous years, we must be mindful that these are not like
for like comparisons due to 2 years of exam diet cancellations. There has also
been shifts within leavers cohorts as more pupils stayed on in school during the
pandemic years due to lack of alternative options, particularly within
employment.  
3.4. The INSIGHT tool uses a ‘virtual comparator’ (VC) to allow authorities and
schools to make statistically valid comparisons between how young people
have performed against young people nationally, who share four similar
characteristics. These characteristics are gender, stage of leaving, percentage
of time spent in mainstream classes, and Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation
(SIMD) decile. INSIGHT also allows us to compare our performance with
national data. 
Attainment in Literacy and Numeracy 
3.5. Raising attainment in literacy and numeracy remains a key priority of
Renfrewshire Council Children’s Services. This is also one of the Scottish
Government’s key priorities as detailed in its National Improvement Framework. 
3.6. Attainment in literacy and numeracy includes passes at National 4 and 5 in
English and Maths. It also includes passes in some other awards at Scottish
Certificate and Qualification Framework (SCQF) levels 4 and 5 which contain
certain core elements of literacy and numeracy. The tables which follow provide

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data on our performance of our school leaver cohort in literacy and numeracy
compared to our virtual comparator and national figures. 
Attainment in Literacy 
3.7. The graphs that follow show the percentage of leavers achieving SCQF level 4
and SCQF 5 in literacy over 5 years. 
3.8. The percentage of leavers in Renfrewshire achieving literacy at SCQF level 4
or above has remained relatively constant over the past 5 years. Renfrewshire
remains ahead of the national figures and in line with the virtual comparator in
this measure. In the 2022/23 leavers cohort 96% of Renfrewshire pupils
achieved this literacy at SCQF level 4, compared with 94% nationally and 95%
for the virtual comparator. 
Graph 2: Percentage of Leavers Achieved SCQF Level 5 or Above in Literacy. 
Graph 1: Percentage of Leavers Achieved SCQF Level 4 or Above in Literacy. 
96 97 97 96 9695 95 96 96 9594 94 95 94 94
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Renfrewshire Virtual Comparator National

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3.9. Attainment in literacy at SCQF level 5 or above is slightly lower than previous
years however this is consistent with both the virtual and national comparator
figures. Renfrewshire remains in line with the virtual comparator and ahead of
national figures in this measure. In the 2022/23 leavers cohort 85% of
Renfrewshire pupils achieved this measure, compared with 81% nationally and
85% for the virtual comparator. 
Attainment in Numeracy 
3.10. The graphs that follow show the percentage of Renfrewshire leavers who have
achieved SCQF level 4 and SCQF level 5 in numeracy over 5 years. 
87 88 90 87 8586 86 88 86 8582 82 83 82 81
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Renfrewshire Virtual Comparator National
94 95 95 93 9393 93 94 93 9291 92 92 91 91
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Renfrewshire Virtual Comparator National
Graph 3: Percentage of Leavers Achieved SCQF Level 4 or Above in Numeracy.

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3.11. Patterns of attainment in numeracy are similar to literacy, although literacy
attainment is higher across both levels. At SCQF level 4, numeracy attainment
is broadly consistent over 5 years. Renfrewshire is consistently ahead of
national figures over 5 years and remains in line with the virtual comparator. In
the 2022/23 leavers cohort 93% of Renfrewshire pupils achieved SCQF level 4
numeracy, compared with 91% nationally and 92% for the virtual comparator. 
3.12. The percentage of Renfrewshire school leavers achieving SCQF Level 5 or
above in numeracy has decreased slightly on previous years, however, remains
broadly in line with pre-pandemic levels. Renfrewshire remains ahead of the
virtual comparator and national figures in this measure.  In the 2022/23 leavers
cohort 75% of Renfrewshire pupils achieved this measure, compared with 74%
nationally and 71% for the virtual comparator. 
Improving Attainment for All 
3.13. Each qualification on the Scottish Certificate and Qualifications Framework
(SCQF) is attributed a number of tariff points. The higher the level of
qualification, the more tariff points are attributed. On leaving school, pupils will
have a total tariff score which incorporates their latest and best achievements in
the senior phase.
3.14. Within this measure, INSIGHT breaks the data down into three groups of
leavers: the lowest attaining 20%, the middle attaining 60% and the highest
attaining 20%. It then calculates the average total tariff points for each of these
groups and compares their attainment with the virtual comparator and the
national figure. Graphs demonstrating trends in each of these groups are
shown below.
76 78 80 77 7573 75 78 75 74
69 71 73 71 71
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Renfrewshire Virtual Comparator National
Graph 4: Percentage of Leavers Achieved SCQF Level 5 or Above in Numeracy.

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3.15. The average total tariff of the lowest attaining 20% of leavers in Renfrewshire
has decreased on previous years and is lower than pre-pandemic levels. The
comparator data follows the same pattern over time.  Renfrewshire remains
ahead of the national figure but is not in line with the virtual comparator. In the
2022/23 leavers cohort, the average total tariff in Renfrewshire was 172. This
compares to 141 nationally and 172 for the virtual comparator. 172 tariff points
is approximately equivalent to 2 National 5 awards at B or C grades and 1
National 4 pass.
 
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Renfrewshire Virtual Comparator National
Graph 5: Average Total Tariff of Lowest 20% Attainment Cohort

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The performance of the middle 60% attainment cohort in Renfrewshire tracks closely
with comparator data. Renfrewshire attainment is lower than previous years but
remains in line with pre-pandemic levels. Renfrewshire has consistently been behind
the virtual comparer over 5 years and in 2022/23 is in line with the national figure. In
the 2022/23 leavers cohort, the average total tariff in Renfrewshire was 853. This
compares to 832 nationally and 913 for the virtual comparator. 853 tariff points is
approximately equivalent to 2 B grade and 3 C grade Higher awards. 
3.16. The average total tariff of school leavers in the highest 20% attainment cohort
has increased over 5 years, despite a decrease since the previous year’s
cohort. Renfrewshire in line with the national figure and marginally below the
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Renfrewshire Virtual Comparator National
1500
1600
1700
1800
1900
2000
2100
2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Renfrewshire Virtual Comparator National
Graph 6: Average Total Tariff of Middle 60% Attainment Cohort 
Graph 7: Average Total Tariff of Highest 20% Attainment Cohort

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virtual comparator within the latest data. There was a sharp peak in 2021 for
Renfrewshire and the comparators which is likely to be the result of the
inclusion of 2 years of alternative certification replacing exam diets. In the
2022/23 leavers cohort, the average total tariff in Renfrewshire was 1928. This
compares to 1931 nationally and 1960 for the virtual comparator. 1928 tariff
points is approximately equivalent to 5 Higher A grades plus 2 Advanced
Higher B grades. 
Attainment Versus Deprivation 
3.17. Closing the poverty related attainment gap is an overarching priority of
Children’s Services. Schools in all sectors are getting increasingly better at
identifying their most vulnerable pupils and using strategies to try and mitigate
the impact of poverty on their attainment. The Scottish Government measures
progress towards closing the poverty related attainment gap using the Scottish
Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) quintiles. SIMD quintiles represent the
20% most deprived areas to the 20% least deprived areas.
3.18. The following chart shows the average total tariff points by SIMD quintiles for
Renfrewshire and its comparators.

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3.19. In the 2022/23 leavers cohort, Renfrewshire’s average total tariff behind the
virtual comparator across all quintiles. Renfrewshire is ahead of the national
figures in quintile 1, 3 and 4. The size of the attainment gap between SIMD
quintile 1 and quintile 5 is similar across Renfrewshire and the comparator data.
Renfrewshire has a 45% attainment gap, compared with 42% for the virtual
comparator and 48% nationally. 
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
SIMD Quintile 1 (20%
Most Deprived)
SIMD Quintile 2 SIMD Quintile 3 SIMD Quintile 4 SIMD Quintile 5 (20%
Least Deprived)
Renfrewshire Virtual Comparator National
Linear (Renfrewshire) Linear (Virtual Comparator) Linear (National)
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
1600
2018/19 2019/20 2020/21 2021/22 2022/23
SIMD Quintile 1 (20% Most Deprived) SIMD Quintile 2
SIMD Quintile 3 SIMD Quintile 4
SIMD Quintile 5 (20% Least Deprived)
Graph 8: Average Total Tariff of 2023/23 Leavers by SIMD Quintile 
Graph 9: Average Total Tariff of Renfrewshire School Leavers by SIMD Quintile

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3.20. Graph 9 shows the average total tariff of school leavers in Renfrewshire over 5
years by SIMD quintile. These figures show similar patterns of attainment
across all 5 quintiles. The size of the attainment gap has decreased slightly
from 47% in 2018/19 to 45% in 2022/23, however this is in part due to a greater
decrease in attainment of pupils living in quintile 5 in the latest data. Attainment
of pupils living in quintile 1 is higher than pre-pandemic level, increasing from
655 in 2018/19 to 670 in 2022/23.  
3.21. The service and schools continue to support the Council’s and the Scottish
Government’s priority of closing the poverty attainment gap through improving
and targeting our provision, utilising the Scottish Attainment Challenge and
pupil equity funding.
Leaver Destinations
3.22. This measure identifies the percentage of school leavers that have entered a
positive destination. Positive destinations include higher education, further
education, employment, activity agreements, personal skills development and
voluntary work. 
3.23. The percentage of leavers entering a positive destination is in line with the
previous year at 96.4%. This is an increase over 5 years and Renfrewshire
remains in line with the virtual comparator and marginally ahead of the national
figure. 
 
95.0 94.0 96.5 96.6 96.495.5 94.1 96.1 96.3 96.395.1 93.4 95.5 95.7 95.9
40.0
50.0
60.0
70.0
80.0
90.0
100.0
2018/19 2019/20 2020/21 2021/22 2022/23
Renfrewshire Virtual Comparator National
Graph 19: Percentage of School Leavers entering Positive Destinations.

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3.24. The graph below shows the breakdown of the destinations of the 2022/23
leavers cohort. 
In the 2022/23 leavers cohort, 41.6% of Renfrewshire’s leavers entered higher
education, 24.9% went into further education and 26.1% were employed.
Compared with national figures, Renfrewshire has a higher proportion of pupils
entering higher education and employment. The proportion of Renfrewshire
leavers entering higher education is behind the virtual comparator however
Renfrewshire is above the virtual figure in employment and in line within further
education. 
0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0 30.0 35.0 40.0 45.0 50.0
% Employed
% Further Education
% Higher Education
% Not known
% Personal Skills Development
% Training
% Unemployed Not Seeking
% Unemployed Seeking
% Voluntary Work
National Virtual Comparator Renfrewshire
Graph 11: School Leaver Destinations 2022/23

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3.25. Patterns within destination type have been impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic
in 2020 and 2021. Employment figures continue to increase following a dip
during the pandemic and are now higher than in 2018/19. Conversely, the
proportion of pupils entering higher education had increased during the
pandemic years but has now returned to previous levels. Improvements over
the previous 5 years have been largely as a result of a decrease in the
percentage of leavers who are unemployed seeking, which in 2022/23 was
2.4%. 
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
% Employed % Further
Education
% Higher
Education
% Other Positive % Unemployed
Not Seeking
% Unemployed
Seeking
% Not known
2018/19 2019/20 2020/21 2021/22 2022/23
Graph 12: Renfrewshire School Leaver Destinations (5 Years)

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_______________________________________________________
4. Next Steps
4.1 Renfrewshire continues to perform well against its comparators across the
majority of measures. While we have not seen significant improvement from the
previous leavers cohort this is replicated in national trends suggesting this is in
part due to challenges comparing different assessment models undertaken
during the Covid-19 pandemic. However, we recognise the scope for further
improvement, particularly in relation to reducing the poverty related attainment
gap. We will continue to make this a priority as we strive for even further
improvement. 
___________________________________________________________________
Implications of the Report
1. Financial - none
2. HR & Organisational Development – none 
3. Community/Council Planning –
 Our Renfrewshire is thriving – looking at attainment in this way provides
schools and Children’s Services with a robust way to evaluate the quality of
education provision. 
 Tackling inequality, ensuring opportunities for all – attainment data is
examined in the context of deprivation to ensure that we are working
towards equity and excellence. 
4. Legal – none 
5. Property/Assets – none
6. Information Technology - none 
7. Equality & Human Rights 
 
The Recommendations contained within this report have been assessed in
relation to their impact on equalities and human rights. No negative impacts on
equality groups or potential for infringement of individuals’ human rights have
been identified arising from the recommendations contained in the report
because it is for noting only. If required following implementation, the actual
impact of the recommendations and the mitigating actions will be reviewed and
monitored, and the results of the assessment will be published on the Council’s
website. 
8. Health & Safety – none
9. Procurement - none
10. Risk - none

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11. Privacy Impact – none
12. Cosla Policy Position – not applicable 
13. Climate Risk - none
_______________________________________________________ 
Author: Fiona Wright, Management Information Officer, Children’s Services.
Fiona.wright-ED@renfrewshire.gov.uk