Chapter 5  Achievement of CfE Levels of pupils based in special schools/units

In 2023-24 around one quarter of pupils within special schools and standalone special units were following their own milestones, a further quarter of pupils had not yet achieved early level and three per cent of pupils in special schools and standalone special units were not assessed. For further information see section 4.3 of the methodology paper.

In order to show the full range of information recorded for pupils in special schools and standalone special units the calculations in this chapter include pupils recorded as Not Assessed. Pupils recorded as Not Assessed are excluded from the analysis in other chapters. Therefore, these proportions cannot be directly compared to those presented in other Chapters of this report.

From 2021-22 onwards, a new recording option, ‘studying beyond BGE level’, has been introduced for pupils in special schools and standalone special units. In 2023-24, 16 per cent of pupils in standalone special schools and units were recorded in this way. This is slightly higher than in 2022-23 (14 per cent). This recording option was not available prior to 2021-22 and so caution should be exercised if making comparisons over time, particularly when comparing the proportions of pupils recorded as ‘Not Assessed’. For further information see Section 4.3 of the methodology paper.

Chart 12: More than a quarter of pupils in special schools/units achieved early level or higher

Percentage of special schools/units pupils achieving CfE levels, 2023-24