Educational attainment - % of pupils achieving 5 or more awards at level 6 (c11 / c12)

• This indicator provides a measure of achievement for secondary school pupils (in the senior phase 4 to 6, typically 15 to 18 year olds) who appear on the pupil census for local authority schools.  It represents the percentage of pupils gaining 5 or more awards at Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) level 6.
• A SCQF Level 6 is essentially a higher in the Scottish education system (however not all SCQF Level 6 qualifications are traditional Highers as the level represents the difficulty of the learning, not just the type of qualification.
• Measuring attainment in this manner for all pupils - as well as for those living in the 20% most deprived areas (as per the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD)) - provides one way to carry out a high level assessment of the attainment gap.

Why this matters

• Tracking this information provides a clear picture of how well education systems are performing and whether young people are developing the skills needed for employment and life.  Because education is closely linked to employment, income, and health, and wellbeing, tracking attainment supports evidence‑based decisions that improve both individual life chances and wider social and economic outcomes.
• Educational attainment helps shape people’s opportunities in the labour market and the level at which they can participate. Higher levels of attainment typically open up access to a wider range of jobs and support better long‑term outcomes, allowing individuals to progress based on their skills and efforts rather than their circumstances.

Latest performance

All pupils

Pupils living in the 20% most deprived areas (as per the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD)).

Due to the pandemic, the time period covered by the data reflects four distinct approaches to assessment and certification of SQA attainment.  This includes a longstanding use of exams and externally assessed coursework (pre-pandemic), the use of estimates as a basis for awards in 2020, an Alternative Certification model in 2021, and the return of formal exams in 2022 with adjustments in place to mitigate the ongoing effects of the pandemic. 

The different circumstances and awarding processes of 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022 do not therefore allow for a wholly accurate comparison across the years and therefore this context needs to be taken into account when reviewing the data and trends for this indicator.

All pupils

• Latest results for educational attainment in North Lanarkshire (39%) show an increasing trend that is in line with the national average and the comparative average for the group of similar councils.
• The latest results (39%) show an improvement from the previous year (36%) and The Plan for North Lanarkshire baseline (34%).

North Lanarkshire’s latest results (39%) are lower than the national average (41%) but higher than the comparative average for the group of similar councils (34%).

Pupils living in the 20% most deprived areas (as per the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD)).

• Latest results for educational attainment in North Lanarkshire (25%) show improvement from the previous year at a slightly greater rate than the national average and the comparative average for the group of similar councils.   
• The latest results (25%) show an improvement from the previous year (22%) and The Plan for North Lanarkshire baseline (20%).

North Lanarkshire’s latest results (25%) are higher than the national average (24%) and the comparative average for the group of similar councils (23%).

Gap in percentage points between C11 (all pupils) and C12 (pupils living in the 20% most deprived areas (as per the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD)).

Figures 11a and 12a show a difference in attainment at this level between those pupils living in the 20% most deprived areas, compared to the overall student population. 

• Between the overall figure (c11), and that for those living in the most deprived areas (c12), the gap in North Lanarkshire is smaller than it is nationally - there is a 14 percentage point difference in attainment in respect of 5 or more awards at level 6 or above in North Lanarkshire compared to a 17 percentage point gap nationally.  The comparative average gap for the group of similar councils is lower at 10 percentage points.
• Over the period of The Plan for North Lanarkshire the gap in North Lanarkshire has remained the same.  However, care should be taken when interpreting this result as the approach to assessing attainment has changed over the years and this is only one high level way of assessing the attainment gap, there are a range of other measures used in the education sector specifically for this purpose.

Impact of delivering The Plan for North Lanarkshire

Educational attainment plays a central role in delivering inclusive growth and prosperity for all because it shapes people’s ability to participate fully in the economy and in society. Higher levels of education are strongly linked to better employment prospects, higher earnings, and greater job security. When more people gain relevant qualifications and skills, productivity increases, businesses can grow, and economic benefits are spread more widely rather than concentrated among a small group.

Higher educational attainment can widen opportunities for people living in deprived areas. Reducing attainment gaps supports social mobility by improving access to further learning, training, and employment and helps break cycles of disadvantage. Over time, this helps reduce poverty, strengthens community resilience, and reduces demand pressures on services.