Attainment results mark success for Midlothian schools

Midlothian has recorded its strongest attainment results since national data collections resumed in 2021/22, with significant improvements across literacy and numeracy in primary and secondary schools.

Exceeding aims

At the full Council meeting today (Tuesday) councillors commended the report noting that pupils in P4, P7 and S3 achieved their highest-ever literacy results, while the poverty-related attainment gap narrowed across every measure and exceeded this year’s aims.

• Read the full report and Appendix B supporting statistics

Helping pupils achieve their potential

Councillor Ellen Scott, Cabinet Member for Education, said: “These outstanding results are a testament to the hard work, resilience and ambition of our children and young people, supported by dedicated staff and families across Midlothian. We are especially proud to see real progress in closing the poverty-related attainment gap. We want to make sure that all of our young people have the same opportunities to excel and that is why we are concentrating our efforts on equity, high-quality learning and targeted support to make a meaningful difference. We will continue to build on this success to ensure every learner can achieve their full potential.”

Strong results

S4 pupils achieved their strongest Level 5 literacy and numeracy results in five years with positive trends also evident in S5 and S6, particularly in numeracy, where results reached their highest levels over the same period.

Data-driven support

Midlothian’s Raising Attainment Strategy with its focus on inclusive learning, teaching and assessment, strengthened curriculum pathways and expanded professional learning, has played a central role in this improvement. Schools continue to benefit from data-driven support, targeted interventions, and collaborative work across school groups.

Collaborative approach

The Education Service will prioritise consolidating gains, enhancing performance at S5 and S6, and supporting Listening and Talking at P1. Engagement with learners and families remains central, with pupil leadership conferences and relaunched Parent Council Chairs’ meetings shaping ongoing improvement.

Notes

Across P1, P4 and P7 combined, attainment in Midlothian has risen steadily:

• Literacy:

  • 2021: 65.8% of pupils achieved the expected level

  • 2024: 72.3%

  • 2025: 76.6%

• Numeracy:

  • 2021: 72.8% achieved the expected level

  • 2024: 76.8%

  • 2025: 80.2%

In summary: literacy has improved by almost 11 percentage points since 2021, and numeracy by over 7 percentage points, showing strong and consistent progress across primary schools.

S3 attainment in Midlothian has improved steadily over the last few years:

• Overall literacy:

  • 2022: 80.7% of pupils reached the expected level
  • 2024: 84.4%
  • 2025: 89.7%

• Reading (part of literacy):

  • 2022: 87.3%
  • 2024: 88.1%
  • 2025: 92.2%

• Numeracy:

  • 2022: 88.5%
  • 2024: 91.6%
  • 2025: 93.9%

In summary: more and more S3 pupils in Midlothian are achieving the levels expected of them in literacy, reading and numeracy, with 2025 showing the strongest results yet.