Scottish Attainment Challenge - 2018-2022: equality impact assessment

EQIA - Background

Background

The Scottish Attainment Challenge was launched in 2015 to help achieve equity in educational outcomes, with a mission to close the poverty-related attainment gap between children and young people from the least and most disadvantaged communities.

The Scottish Government and Education Scotland jointly deliver this programme. The Scottish Government is responsible for the development and implementation of the policy, allocation and distribution of funding, designing an accountability framework to ensure investment is impactful and to evaluate impact nationally. Alongside this Education Scotland provides guidance, support and guidance to local authorities and schools via Attainment Advisors (AAs) and Senior Regional Advisors (SRAs) in terms of the implementation of approaches locally, identifying appropriate outcomes and measures, professional learning and sharing good practice. As part of their inspection function, Education Scotland evaluates the quality of learning and teaching in Scottish schools and education services.

While the Attainment Challenge has evolved during the current Parliamentary term, and new arrangements have now been announced, for the period up until March 2022, it comprised the following elements:

1. Challenge Authorities

2. Schools Programme

3. Pupil Equity Funding

4. Care Experienced Children and Young People Fund

5. National Programmes

6. Universal support, including:

- Attainment Advisors

- The National Improvement Hub

- Children and Young People Improvement Collaborative (CYPIC)