Dundee schools are being challenged to keep on improving pupils’ exam results for the next five years.
The city council’s education department has drawn up a plan to guide its work up to 2017, with a drive to raise attainment at the core.
Education director Michael Wood said: ”The department remains fully committed to raising levels of academic attainment in our young people. There is no doubt that we have seen a positive upward trend in this area in recent years, and equally there is no doubting our determination to continue this improvement.
”That is why we introduced the Improving Pupil Attainment & Achievement framework where, in partnership with schools, various collegiate groups have an important role to play in coordinating, managing and implementing the projects in the plan over the next five years.”
The plan, which will go before councillors for approval next week, comes as the council has released data on this summer’s exam results.
Pre-appeal results show increases in almost all measures at S4. For the first time the pass rate for English and maths at Standard Grade foundation level has reached 93%, both meeting the council’s own target and matching the performance of its comparator local authorities.
The figures show that between 2008 and this year the proportion of S4 pupils passing five or more Standard Grades at general level has risen by 7% to 71%, while there has been a 3% increase to 26% in the proportion passing five or more at credit level.
”It is particularly pleasing to note that 20% of our S6 pupils now leave school with five Highers or more while 30% leave school with three Highers or more,” said Mr Wood. ”These measures show sustained improvement over the years with clear improving trends.”
Between 2008 and this year there has been a 12% increase to 46% in the number of S6 pupils leaving school having passed at least one Higher, while the proportion passing five or more has risen by 6% to 20%.
Mr Wood said: ”The department has made steady progress towards the implementation of Curriculum for Excellence over the last six years. The next three years in particular mark significant milestones as the new examinations are introduced from S4-6 starting in session 2013/14.
”The education plan recognises the importance of a strategic partnership that focuses resources and support on influential stages in children’s development, in their early years and in late primary/early secondary. This is an ambitious plan and will not be delivered without the support of all our staff.”