The summative report is the final output of the Attainment Scotland Fund Evaluation Strategy 2022-26. It brings together both quantitative and qualitative evidence to report on progress towards the short, medium and long term outcomes of the Scottish Attainment Challenge.
The Attainment Scotland Fund (ASF) has helped narrow the poverty related attainment gap for primary and secondary literacy and numeracy to record lows, the latest evaluation report shows. The gap in young people leaving school and going onto a positive destination after school has reduced by almost two-thirds since 2009-10.
The funding supports the Scottish Attainment Challenge (SAC) and will provide up to £200 million in 2026-27, building on the almost £1.75 billion already invested since it was launched in 2015.
Opportunities for young people, including care experienced young people, have increased as a result of the ASF which has delivered strong foundations to improve outcomes for children affected by poverty, the evaluation concludes, with further progress required to deliver more consistent and sustained improvement.
The evaluation report is based on existing National Improvement Framework (NIF) measures, as well as surveys undertaken with local authorities, case studies carried out in schools across, as well as a series of interviews with national stakeholders.