Scottish Attainment Challenge 2022 to 2023 - 2025 to 2026: child rights and wellbeing impact assessment

6. How have you consulted with relevant stakeholders, including involving children and young people in the development of the policy/measure?

As part of the stakeholder engagement that informed the refresh SAC programme, Scottish Government and Education Scotland convened an advisory group, including a range of different stakeholders across the education system to provide their views and inform advice to Minsters, they included: Directors of Education, COSLA, academics, third sector organisations and school leaders and practitioners.

In addition, we have hosted a number of bilateral engagements with external partners, not represented on the advisory group including:

• national and local/community-based third sector organisations;
• local authority Community Learning and Development Network;
• COSLA;
• ADES;
• professional associations;
• a range of third sector partners;
• a wide range of engagement to capture the voices of children, young people and families; and
• drawing upon published evidence and material that has captured young people's views, such as YouthLink Scotland's Lockdown Lowdown

Further, extensive engagement has been undertaken internally across a range of related policy areas.

Children and Young people online survey and discussion

Scottish Attainment Challenge Policy Unit and Education Scotland in collaboration with Community Learning & Development Managers Scotland undertook an small engagement survey with children and young people from July to September of 2021, which captured views from 322 young people living throughout 16 local authorities.

The survey was designed to give a snapshot of views on learning experiences in and out of school, from secondary school aged young people aged 11 – 18 years. The key findings from this survey are below.

• The majority (74%) of online participants agreed or strongly agreed that they had all the right people and resources available to help them learn at school.
• Half of the young people (50%) stated that they were able to contribute to decisions made about their learning.
• A majority (55%) agree or strongly agree that they get the support to express their views is good and helps them achieve.
• The support the majority (60%) of young people get with learning outside of school is noted as good and does help young people to achieve. A majority (65%) also agreed that they had appropriate opportunities to take part in activities outside of school where they live.