School attendance gap increases between richer and poorer pupils in Scotland

More children from poorer areas in Scotland have been absent from school in the last month.

Figures reveal the attendance gap between them and pupils from wealthier areas in the country has increased.

Analysis has revealed the average attendance rate for the last month was 95.27% among the most privileged youngsters.

But in the least wealthy children, the rate was just 88.14% - a gap of more than seven per cent. On certain days, the gap in attendance rate between the two was 11%.

Last year, according to Scottish Government figures, the overall attendance rate for the poorest was 90.4%, compared to 95.3% for the wealthiest – a gap of 4.9%.

The research was conducted by parents group UsForThem Scotland. Organiser Jo Bisset said, “It’s been long suspected that children in the poorest areas have been worst-hit by coronavirus – now these statistics prove it.

“Schools should be more-or-less running as normal, yet in the last month more one in 10 vulnerable youngsters have missed out on vital education.

“This obviously places them at even more of a disadvantage for now and the future.

“The Scottish Government makes the right noises about keeping schools open even when other parts of society are closed down.

“But that’s not translating into action for children from the least privileged backgrounds, and that will have hugely negative consequences.”

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