LITERACY COMMISSION REPORT - ONE-IN-FIVE SCOTS HAVE LITERACY PROBLEMS

Iain Gray has pledged to eradicate illiteracy in Scotland following the publication today (Friday) of the report Labour commissioned which shows almost one-in-five Scots had problems with literacy.
 
Scottish Labour commissioned an independent group of academics, educationalists, business people and writers to investigate Scotland’s literacy problems. The Literacy Commission found that around one million Scots had problems with literacy and have called for a zero tolerance approach to tackle the problem.
 
The Commission also found that 18.5 per cent of children in Scotland leave primary school without being functionally literate – some 13,000 youngsters a year at current population levels.
 
Iain Gray said this was ‘a huge wake-up call for Scotland’ and that politicians must have the ‘vision and ambition’ to act on the recommendations. He also pledged to bring forward a Literacy Action Plan as a matter of urgency.
 
Iain Gray said:
 
"I pledge Scottish Labour to the task of eradicating illiteracy and innumeracy from 21st century Scotland. We need a revolution in literacy teaching in our schools and we will argue for that in opposition and once in office we will pursue this relentlessly.
 
"This report is huge wake-up call for Scotland. With one in five Scots with literacy problems this mean that thousands of Scots will not reach their full potential and Scotland’s ability to compete in business and commerce will also suffer.
 
"We must have the ambition and vision to tackle this issue head on and I promise today that Labour will take on board this report and produce our Literacy Action Plan to take forward the main recommendations.
 
"The Commission points out the scale of the problem but also clearly shows a number of practical measures that can be taken to start moving Scotland forward.
 
"The use of synthetic phonics has hugely improved literacy levels in West Dunbartonshire and Clackmannanshire. Different approaches were used but as a teaching methodology it has proved to be successful. The Commission also recommends a testing regimen not just to show competence for school leavers but also to identify children who are struggling at an early age and intervene.
 
"The report also highlights the need for continuing professional development for teachers to ensure that every teacher has the skills to drive forward literacy levels.
 
"All of these key findings will be acted upon.
 
"Today I have tasked Labour’s Shadow Education Secretary Des McNulty with driving forward this action plan.
 
"I would like to thank the Commission for their work and I can assure parents in Scotland that Labour will not stint from ensuring that every child will get the help and support they need to be the best that they can be.”
 
4 December 2009

NOTES
 
1. The report can be read by clicking on the picture of a PDF on the right.
 
2. The membership of the Literacy Commission is as follows
 
THE LITERACY COMMISSION MEMBERSHIP:
 
Judith Gillespie (Chair) – Development manager of the Scottish Parent Teacher Council
Keir Bloomer – Independent education consultant
Geraldine Gammell - Director of the Prince's Trust in Scotland
John Loughton - Vice Convener of the Scottish Parliament’s Cross Party Group on Children and Young People
Donald MacKay - Donald MacKay is the Director of Education and Communities with Midlothian Council.
Gillian MacKay - Headteacher at Scotstoun Primary School 
Tommy MacKay - Educationalist and child psychologist
Iain McMillan CBE - Director of CBI Scotland. 
Gordon Matheson - senior Elected Member of Glasgow City Council. 
Ian Rankin - Ian Rankin is a full-time award winning novelist.  
Gavin Reid - is an international author and educational psychologist. 
Lindsay Roy CBE - Lindsay Roy is an MP and formerRector of Inverkeithing High School and Kirkcaldy High School
Graeme Waddell - is a former Business Director of Rolls-Royce Aero Repair
Margaret Ward - currently Head Teacher of Braidbar Primary School in Giffnock
Chris Young - Policy Officer with Glasgow City Council who has provided research support to the work of the Literacy Commission.