Writing in today's Evening News, Cllr Joan Griffiths, Education, Children and Families Convener, gives best wishes to pupils starting at school next week and looks back at a successful year.
With just a few days left of the summer holidays, preparations are well underway for a brand-new school term.
We’re looking forward to welcoming around 3,918 new Primary 1 pupils through the school gates for the very first time, and I’d like to wish our youngest students a fantastic first day at school with us. In addition, almost 4,500 of our pupils will be making the transition to High School and I’d like to wish them the very best as they start the next chapter of their learning journey.
In my role as Education, Children and Families Convener I’ve had the great pleasure of visiting many of our schools and early years settings.
As a parent and grandmother, I know how important the building blocks of learning are for our young people as they take their first steps in life. I’m also all too aware of how exciting but apprehensive this time can be for parents and carers, as well as our children!
A nervous wait was over yesterday, however, for more 12,390 of our high school learners - who received their exam results by post, text and email on Tuesday morning.
All our young people should be praised for their hard work and we’re continuing to see a high number of our pupils achieving their goals. It was lovely to hear about the pupils’ successes at Liberton High School as they were talking to the media after receiving their results. I’ve really enjoyed hearing about their personal stories and dreams being realised from moving towards becoming a vet, a computer programmer and a foster carer.
I am delighted to say that we have recorded levels of attainment for pupils across 香港六合彩资料网 above those achieved before the Covid pandemic and the performance of pupils across 香港六合彩资料网 was maintained or improved in most measures for National 5 and Higher courses when compared to both 2023 and 2019. I am particularly pleased that the attainment gap has been narrowed further.
I want every single pupil and school to be immensely proud of their journey over the last few years and to remember there is no wrong path to their positive destination. We hope that our learners find their passions in life, whatever they may be, and we know that it’s a team effort – our teachers and support staff, as well as youth workers and other partners have all played their part.
All in, this has been a year where there’s been much to celebrate and be proud of and I’m looking forward with much optimism to the year ahead.
I hope all of our young people, parents and carers, teachers, and the other dedicated staff who work in our schools have had a well-deserved and relaxing break. I wish you a fantastic start to the new term.