SNP are breaking another attainment gap promise

The Scottish Government’s target is for students from the 20% most deprived areas in Scotland to represent 20% of Scottish entrants to full-time first-degree courses at university by 2030.

Analysis of the new report on Widening Access 2023-24, however, shows that the government are not on course to meet this target.

The report reveals that:

• Students from the 20% most deprived areas in Scotland made up 16.7% of undergraduate entrants in 2023/24- this same as it was in 2020/21.
• Based on the rate of progress since 2013-13, it could take up to 12 years to close the remaining gap and meet the target.

Willie Rennie said:

“When it comes to the attainment gap, the SNP can only offer broken promises and missed targets.

“Universities have done a lot of work in trying to widen access, but they can only do so much. Ultimately, the SNP’s failure to close the attainment gap at a school level undermines that good work because it is leaving lots of young people from deprived backgrounds without the support they need to get into university.

“In schools, there are lots of issues that need addressed, from behaviour challenges to teachers stuck on supply lists and fundamental problems with the curriculum. But all of these have gotten worsen on the SNP’s watch.

“Only the Liberal Democrats have a plan to get Scottish education back to its best and give everyone a fair start in life. You can vote for those plans at next May’s election by backing the Scottish Liberal Democrats on the peach regional ballot paper.”