Item 08 - Strategy for Excellence and Equity
West Dunbartonshire Council · 17 September 2025
Back to Educational Services Committee — 17 September 2025 and its agenda
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WEST DUNBARTONSHIRE COUNCIL Report by Senior Education Officer – Raising Attainment/Improving Learning Educational Services Committee: 17 September 2025 ___________________________________________________________________ Subject: Strategy for Excellence and Equity 1. Purpose 1.1 The purpose of this report is to provide an update on progress with delivering improved outcomes for attainment and equity. 1.2 This report is for noting. 2. Recommendations 2.1 The Educational Services Committee is asked to note: (a) the attainment and equity performance of West Dunbartonshire in the Broad General Education in academic session 2024/25; (b) annual progress towards the Stretch Aims set in 2023 for achievement by 2025/26; and (c) the Council’s annual report and improvement plan for Excellence and Equity 2025/26. 3. Background 3.1 This report presents Educational Servicesʼ analysis of West Dunbartonshireʼs Achievement of Curriculum for Excellence Levels (ACEL) in literacy and numeracy for academic session 2024/2025 at P1, P4, P7, and S3. It also includes baseline data for literacy and numeracy in Early Years.The full analysis is provided in Appendix 1. 3.2 Achievement of Curriculum for Excellence Levels (ACEL) is collected annually by the Scottish Government in June as part of the National Improvement Frameworkʼs reporting and monitoring programme. The national statistical report for session 2024/25 is expected in December 2025. Until ratified, the ACEL analysis in this report is provisional. A further update, incorporating national analysis, will be submitted to the Education Committee in March 2026. ITEM 8
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3.3 An annual progress update on Stretch Aims is included at Appendix 2. In line with the March 2023 update to the Scottish Attainment Challenge, all local authorities were required to establish Stretch Aims through to 2025/26. West Dunbartonshire has set ambitious yet achievable targets, subject to oversight from national agencies. 3.4 It is notable that West Dunbartonshire is maintaining a positive year on year progress rate with attainment and equity outcomes. As reported to Committee in March 2025, the Council is outperforming national averages across several key measures. West Dunbartonshire’s continued progress in attainment and equity has been supported by Scottish Attainment Challenge (SAC) funding from 2015 to 2022 and, from 2022 onward, by the Strategic Equity Fund under a revised tapered model. 3.5 The analysis in this report highlights key strengths and areas for improvement in attainment across ELC, P1, P4, P7, and S3 in session 2024/2025. It includes: year-on-year performance comparisons - percentages of pupils achieving expected Curriculum for Excellence levels by June 2025; attainment gap performance through comparison of attainment across social indicators of multiple deprivation; year on year performance comparisons baseline data for literacy and numeracy in Early Years; and progress towards Stretch Aims set in 2023 to be achieved by 2025/26. 3.6 This performance data informs local planning and decision-making to improve outcomes and reduce inequalities for children and young people in West Dunbartonshire. The attached Strategy for Excellence and Equity Annual Progress Report and Plan (Appendix 3) outlines the Service Plan, which aligns with the National Improvement Framework, the Council’s strategic direction, and Strategic Equity Funding allocations. It reflects national and local priorities and incorporates stakeholder feedback. Annual reporting and planning are statutory requirements under the National Improvement Framework Guidance 3.7 Progress is monitored by the Chief Education Officer through the West Dunbartonshire Excellence and Equity Board and reported regularly to the Education Committee. This is supported by a structured programme of attainment reviews under the West Dunbartonshire Improvement Framework, encompassing both Broad General Education and Senior Phase. External scrutiny is provided by Education Scotland, with progress and performance reports submitted to national agencies by the designated Attainment Advisor for West Dunbartonshire.
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3.8 In June 2025, the Scottish Government passed the Education Reform Bill, which sets out the formal separation of His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education in Scotland (HMIE) from Education Scotland. Under the new framework, the Chief Inspector will be responsible for: Inspecting educational establishments and education services. Publishing inspection plans and reports. Producing an annual report, including a system-level review of Scottish education performance. Advising Scottish Ministers when a school or education authority fails to make required improvements. Where necessary, Scottish Ministers may issue enforcement directions if insufficient progress is identified. The Bill also confers authority on Ministers to mandate improvement actions. 4. Main Issues 4.1 The authority has sustained strong performance across Broad General Education, with consistent year-on-year improvement delivered by robust improvement planning, effective leadership, a well-resourced workforce, a personalised and high-quality curriculum offer, and a blend of universal and targeted support for children and young people. The plan outlined in Appendix 3 sets out the scope and ambition of the service’s work to advance excellence and equity. It is underpinned by Scottish Government funding, which provides targeted additionality to help local authorities support children living in poverty. . 4.2 Attainment Analysis for ELC, P1, P4, P7, and S3 (session 2024/2025) Sections 4.3 to 4.6 detail areas of strength and areas for improvement in session 2025/26.Tables 1–4 summarise attainment and equity performance indicators across Early Years, Primary, and Secondary Broad General Education in session 2024/25. 4.3 Table 1: Year-on-Year Performance Comparison Percentage of pupils in primary achieving expected Curriculum for Excellence levels by June 2025 Strengths Area for Development Literacy attainment remained stable at 72%. Numeracy attainment remained stable at 79%. P7 attainment increased by 1% Slight decline in attainment at P1 and P4 (by 1–2%) in reading, writing, and numeracy
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4.4 Table 2: Year-on-Year Performance Comparison Percentage of secondary pupils in the Broad General Education achieving expected Curriculum for Excellence levels by June 2025 Strengths Area for Development Numeracy attainment at S3 increased by 5%, reaching 90% Literacy attainment at S3 decreased by 4%, falling to 88% 4.5 Table 3: Attainment Gap Performance Percentage of pupils in primary and secondary achieving expected Curriculum for Excellence levels in Quintile 1 compared to pupils residing in Quintile5: Strengths Area for Development Primary: Literacy and numeracy gaps between Quintile 1 and Quintile 5 decreased by 1 percentage point (pp). Secondary: Overall attainment gap decreased by 2pp Secondary: Literacy Gap increased by 10pp, now at 11pp between Quintile 1 and Quintile 5. 4.6 Table 4: Year-on-Year Performance Comparison Early Years’ Baseline Percentage of pupils achieving expected Baseline measures literacy and numeracy Strengths Area for Development Literacy attainment (concepts of print) increased by 4% (from 56% to 60%). Numeracy attainment (number processes) increased by 5% (from 34% to 39%). P1 literacy increased by 2% (from 72% to 74%). P1 numeracy decreased slightly by 1% (from 84% to 83%) 4.7 The authority remains on track to meet or exceed most Stretch Aims for 2025/26, as outlined in Appendix 3. Notably, the Stretch Aim for attendance in session 2024/25 has been achieved, reflecting the success of a robust and well-implemented improvement strategy. 5. People Implications 5.1 As reported to Council in June 2022 the Scottish Attainment Challenge funding enabled the provision of additional temporary (seconded) funded posts within the education service, partner council services and external providers. The annual (tapered) decrease in funding by 2026 will reduce the number of staff available to deliver in these areas with the seconded staff returning to their substantive posts, and any backfill element will cease.
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5.2 The tapered decrease in funding by 2026 will reduce the number of Strategic Equity Funded posts: 2021/22 - 41.5 funded posts 2022/23 – 39.0 funded posts 2023/24 – 35.0 funded posts 2024/25 – 28.0 funded posts 2025/26 – 24.07 funded posts 5.3 In June 2025, the Committee was informed of findings from the national thematic inspection of local authorities (March 2025), which highlighted stakeholder concerns about the impact of reduced teacher and support staff numbers on schools' ability to meet the needs of children and young people. This challenge is particularly pressing given the increasing number of children with Additional Support Needs. Furthermore, as the Council experiences higher-than-average poverty levels, any reduction in personnel places additional strain on support services for children and families. Inspectors emphasised the importance of retaining skilled personnel and maintaining strong in-person engagement with schools. Continued investment in officers and peer colleagues to support improvement visits and direct school support remains essential to sustaining progress and ensuring equity.
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6. Financial and Procurement Implications 6.1 The Education Committee will be aware that funding from the Scottish Government underpins the Strategy for Excellence and Equity. Following the announcement of a tapered reduction in Strategic Equity Funding in 2022, West Dunbartonshire has experienced a decrease in annual income. This reduction has directly impacted the service’s capacity to deliver key strategic priorities aligned with excellence and equity 6.2 Since its inception in 2015/16 to March 2024 the Council received £15,834,008 in funding. Please note that in financial year 2025/26 the funding available to West Dunbartonshire will have reduced by over 50% compared to 2021/22.Table 6 provides the detail of the annual reduction in funding up to 2026: Table 6: 2021/22 2022/23 2023/24 2024/25 2025/26 £2,043,815 Reduction of £298,018 (-15%) £1,745,797 Reduction of £298,018 (-17%) £1,447,779 Reduction of £298,018 (-21%) £1,149,761 Reduction of £298,018 (-26%) £851,743 6.3 While the Scottish Government has committed to continuing Strategic Equity Funding into the first year of the new parliamentary term, the specific allocation for West Dunbartonshire has not yet been confirmed, creating uncertainty around future planning and service delivery capacity 7. Risk Analysis 7.1 Current budget constraints and the reduced funding model could impact negatively on sustained improvement in future academic sessions. However, we will continue to monitor this closely to inform future planning. 8. Equalities Impact Assessment 8.1 A full Equality Impact Assessment was submitted to Committee in March 2022 and identified that the decrease in funding will reduce capacity. Scope exists to mitigate impact with the development of the Strategy for Excellence and Equity 2023-2027. 9. Consultation a. Legal Services and the Section 95 Officer have been consulted in relation to the content of this report.
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10. Strategic Assessment 10.1 This report reflects the Council’s overarching priority to support our communities to thrive. Julie McGrogan Senior Education Officer ___________________________________________________________________ Person to Contact: Julie McGrogan, Senior Education Officer, Department of Education, Learning and Attainment, Council Offices, 16 Church Street, Dumbarton, G82 1QL Telephone No: 01389 737316 Email: julie.mcgrogan@west-dunbarton.gov.uk Appendix: 1. Literacy & Numeracy Benchmark Report 2024/25 2. Stretch Aims Progress Report June 2025 3. Strategy for Excellence and Equity Report and Plan 2024-2026 Background Papers: Equality Impact Assessment – March 2022 Wards Affected: All wards
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