Numeracy rate dropping in Scotland, figures show

Numeracy rates among pupils in Scotland have dropped over the past two years, according to the latest figures from the Scottish government.

The Scottish Survey of Literacy and Numeracy found that the proportion of P4 students (halfway through primary school) performing ‘well or very well’ in numeracy had fallen between 2011 and 2013.

In 2011, 76 per cent of P4 students were performing well or very well in numeracy, this dropped to 69 per cent in 2013, and then down to 66 per cent in 2015.

The figures also found that the attainment gap between the richest ad poorest had increased, wth 76 of the least deprived P4 pupils doing well or very well, compared to 55 per cent of the most deprived.

Scottish Labour has attacked the results, claiming they are a direct result of cuts to education budgets.

Scottish Labour Education spokesperson Iain Gray said: “These figures are a disgrace, and show what happens when a government cuts education budgets by 10 per cent. Our children pay the price in poorer literacy and numeracy skills. No wonder the SNP hid these figures until after the election. They lay bare their failure on education. Performance fell in every category and every stage, and the gap between the richest and the rest increased.

He added: “We need to cut the gap between the richest and the rest to give our young people the skills they need to compete for the jobs of the future, but we can only do that by investing in our schools.”