Ann Ballinger: Educational opportunities must be kept safe

Everyone involved in Scottish education will share my delight at some of the very encouraging statistics included in the report.

Perhaps the most encouraging statistic is the quality of education provided across all sectors, with more than 80 per cent of schools reported to be satisfactory or better than satisfactory.

Teachers would all like these figures to improve. Every single teacher in Scotland aims to provide the best possible education for young people in their care.

The most worrying aspect of the information is that 90 per cent of schools in the least deprived areas meet the “satisfactory or above” criteria while only 71 per cent of schools in deprived areas meet the same baseline.

There are a number of reasons for this and each of them damages the young people in deprived areas.

Parents who are unable to engage with schools or have no faith in education do not engage with teachers in these schools.

Funding for adult literacy programmes and adult education must be increased to allow vulnerable parents to develop the skills necessary to engage properly with their children’s education.

Pupils in deprived areas are much more likely to have insufficient nutrition. The link between nutrition and learning is proven beyond doubt and there is no excuse for Scottish children suffering this deprivation.

Many schools in deprived areas do excellent work with young people, developing their skills and self-confidence and encouraging them to become successful and happy adults.

These successes may not be measurable in the traditional sense, but they are of enormous value to the young person, the community and Scotland.

Whatever the reason for this drop in standards, our society has to recognise the need and work to ensure that all young people in Scotland have the opportunity of an excellent education.

• Ann Ballinger is general secretary of the Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association.