Annual performance spotlights

Connect outcome - Education and learning

Inspiring learners, transforming learning, strengthening partnerships

What communities told us:

Improve health and wellbeing to enable children and families to flourish.
Provide a rich and stimulating curriculum that helps raise standards in literacy and numeracy.
Support children and young people to develop their skills for learning, life and work.
Adult learning should be affordable and accessible to older adults. This is good for mental health and physical health and making friendships.
Digital training and accessible learning with opportunities to gain skills are important for adults and young people alike.
Life skills teaching is required – money management, mortgages and use of credit. The skills that should be promoted are IT/Digital skills as well as interpersonal.
Create an environment for communities to fall down, learn and get back up and keep going

What success will look like:

Improved attainment in literacy and numeracy
Improved attendance
Improved positive destinations for our young people

Case study: Celebrating and recognising success in Education

A strong example of this commitment is the recent national success of St Andrew's and St Bride's High School in East Kilbride. In February, pupils and staff attended the Vision Schools Scotland Awards at the Scottish Parliament, where they received Level 2 accreditation from the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, Jenny Gilruth MSP.

The school achieved this advanced award for its sustained, embedded approach to Holocaust education, with pupils actively leading work across the school and wider community. Feedback praised the “deeply committed” approach, highlighting strong cross-curricular engagement and thoughtful student reflection.

Celebrating success

Further examples of our successful working include:

pupils from St John Ogilvie High School met First Minister John Swinney at Bute House in December to discuss how innovative schools are trying to tackle barriers to learning and how more needs to be done for children across Scotland
pupils from Trinity High School had the honour of interviewing First Minister John Swinney on behalf of the Cost of the School Day Voice Network
pupils working with our Instrumental Music Service were delighted to take part in Provost Cooper’s annual Touch a Life Concert, hosted by much-loved local personalities Edward Reid and Michelle McManus, which took place at Hamilton Town House in aid of Sense Scotland and Guide Dogs for the Blind, and raised vital funds for causes that make a real difference across South Lanarkshire
Strathaven Academy Modern Languages Department has been awarded the British Council’s prestigious International School Award in recognition of its work to bring the world into the classroom. The International School Award celebrates the achievements of schools that do exceptional work in international education. Fostering an international dimension in the curriculum is at the heart of this work, helping young people gain the cultural understanding and skills they need for life and work in today’s world
Crawforddyke Primary School pupils took part in the Blue Peter Book Club Halloween Special filmed locally and were delighted to receive their very own Blue Peter badges
the Conference of Schools (CoS4) event once again provided an influential platform for young people to educate, inspire and engage their peers on climate action. Designed and delivered by students for students, the event showcased ideas and solutions aimed at tackling climate change at both local and global levels

Lots more examples of successes in the annual Standards and Quality report (Education Resources).