Improving the life chances of all our children and young people is vitally important.

That is why the Scottish Government recognises the important role of our education system and the need to provide a positive and inclusive learning experience for all school pupils.

The Scottish Government has taken a number of steps to reduce the incidences of school exclusions and close the attainment gap to improve the health and wellbeing of our children and young people, and maximise their future opportunities. Our most recent statistics on exclusions show that in 2014-15, the rate is less than half the comparable figure from 2006-07. Statistics on school exclusions is available on the Scottish Government website through the following link: http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/School-Education/exclusiondatasets/exclusionsdataset2015.

We know that we can improve further, so on 19 June 2017 we published our refreshed guidance on preventing and managing school exclusions. This focuses on the importance of early intervention measures to prevent the need for exclusion and it promotes the importance of positive relationships in schools, recognising that exclusion should only be used as a last resort. The guidance also highlights the importance of schools and education authorities recognising the impact that exclusion can have, particularly on disadvantaged children.

We recognise that excluded and disengaged learners need additional support which is why Education Scotland provides support and advice through a range of national networks and working parties for third sector groups who are working to improve educational outcomes for learners at risk of being excluded.

Statistics on the number of exclusions since 2006-7 are published on the Scottish Government website here:

http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2015/12/7925/321888

Since 2010-11 the Scottish Government has collected data on exclusions biennially. Statistics on exclusions covering academic year 2016-17 will be published as part of the 2017 edition of the Summary Statistics for Schools in Scotland bulletin.

This information is not held by the Scottish Government. Each local authority should be contacted for this information.

This information is not held by the Scottish Government. Each local authority should be contacted for this information.

The Scottish Government has only been collecting information on the numbers of building warrants granted and completion certificates accepted since 2009-10. This information is provided by local authority in the following tables.

This information is not held by the Scottish Government. Each local authority should be contacted for this information.

When the first payment was made in 2015 it was anticipated that the change process would be completed within a 2 year time frame. This has not proved possible because of the extent of the work that was required to inform the development of a model.

It has taken SPS longer than anticipated and at this point in time, we anticipate that the final delivery of the model is still some 2 years off.

SPS has been very clear that the payments that have been made to frontline Prison Officers are connected to their continuing engagement with the process of transformational change. These payments are made in recognition that the effect of that change will be disproportionally felt by that staff group.

The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) has been clear that the payments that have been made to Prison Officers are connected to their continuing engagement with the process of transformational change. This change will deliver a new operating model which it is anticipated will see Prison Officers recognised as Justice Professionals.

The reform underway within SPS will require greater flexibility from frontline Prison Officers and a willingness to acquire new specialist skills and undertake new training and qualifications. The payments are being made in recognition that the effect of that change will be disproportionally felt by that staff group.

This data has only been available for looked after children since 2009-10 - it is published in the annual Education Outcomes for Looked After Children official statistics release.

Furthermore, there are two populations of looked after children for the purposes of this publication. We normally focus on children who were looked after for the whole year in which they left school rather than those who were looked after for only part of the year - this is the basis of the headline figures in the publication, so are presented here.

The overall attendance figures come from Summary Statistics for Schools in Scotland.

Data on attendance is now published biennially.

These figures are also duplicated in the background note for clarity.

Education is this Government’s defining mission. We are absolutely committed to ensuring that every young person can access learning that will provide them with the skills and qualifications to succeed in life and enable them to help create and benefit from sustainable economic growth in Scotland. The role of the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) is critical to helping us achieve both excellence and equity in education. As set out in the SFC’s 2017-18 letter of guidance, Ministers expect the SFC to make decisions that ensure the funds provided to it by the Scottish Government are used to drive sustainable economic growth, deliver the priorities detailed in the letter and achieve the outcomes set out in the SFC’s 2015-2018 Strategic Plan.