The UK Statistics Authority wrote to Pam Duncan-Glancy MSP about Scottish attainment gap

8 May 2025 · Sir Robert Chote, Chair, UK Statistics Authority

The letter, dated 8 May 2025, replies to correspondence of 21 March 2025. The UK Statistics Authority published it as Letter from Sir Robert Chote to Pam Duncan-Glancy MSP – Scottish attainment gap; it links to 2 official records. Below are 4 passages from the letter in the regulator's own words.

What the UK Statistics Authority wrote

“The First Minister should have been clearer that he was referring to a specific set of statistics to evidence his claim, particularly as it was based on data which is not part of the NIF.”

“When making claims about a reduction in the ‘overall’ attainment gap, we would expect the Government to use the NIF to help evidence this, and that this assertion would reflect a reduction in more than one measure relating to attainment.”

“To maintain trust and confidence in their statements, Ministers should take care that when they claim progress of their policies it is by their own defined measures, or otherwise clearly explain the source of separate data so that it is readily accessible for policy experts and the public to understand.”

“We have raised these matters with the First Minister’s office.”

From Sir Robert Chote, Chair, UK Statistics Authority, letter of 8 May 2025. Read the full letter.

Records the letter links to

• National Improvement Framework (NIF)
• Chart 4 of the supplementary tables

Correspondence

• The letter it answered: Pam Duncan-Glancy MSP to Sir Robert Chote – Scottish attainment gap (21 March 2025)

More on Pam Duncan-Glancy.

Receipt