Lord McConnell warns of a maths crisis in Scottish schools
- Only 40.1% of Scottish pupils passed their National 5 mathematics exam in 2024, raising serious concerns among education experts.
- The report asserts that low achievement rates in STEM subjects can undermine Scotland's future economic prospects.
- Educational leaders advocate for curriculum reforms to increase student engagement and improve pass rates in crucial subjects.
In Scotland, a troubling report from the Commission on School Reform highlights severe issues with the attainment of students in maths and science. According to data released for the year 2024, only 40.1% of S4 pupils achieved pass rates in National 5 maths. The alarming findings are part of a broader analysis examining education standards in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects, revealing concerning statistics that date back to 2015. The commission, an independent body formed by the think tank Reform Scotland, assessed trends in exam pass rates for secondary school students. The report emphasizes a significant decline in performance across various STEM subjects, with only 25.9% passing biology, 22.5% in chemistry, 17.9% in physics, and an alarming 9.8% for computing science. Carole Ford, a member of the commission and former headteacher, described the data as revealing a