Highland schools show declining numeracy and literacy, with only minor improvements in some areas.

Highland Council schools continue to underperform national averages in senior numeracy and literacy, with declines across most measures from the previous year, including SCQF Levels 5, 6, and 7 in S4 to S6. Only two areas—S5 Level 6 numeracy and S4 Level 5 numeracy—improved. Despite the drop, the council matched a virtual comparator group of similar schools. It cited certification changes as limiting five-year comparisons, though the INSIGHT tool had already flagged such data as unreliable since 2023. Analysis of the last two academic years shows consistent declines in attainment and fewer students earning multiple qualifications. The education committee will review the findings in an upcoming meeting.