Storm Brann fails to breach even one of Scotland’s flood defences after 18 years of SNP Government but 8 500 fail in England
Professor John Robertson OBA Yesterday, Sepa forecast widespread and intensive flood risk across the most populous parts of Scotland. Today BBC England had Thousands of flood defences meant to protect multiple homes or businesses in England were below the required condition when winter began, a new analysis has found. The 6,498 “high consequence” defences were among about 8,500 that were not fully working as intended due to erosion, damage or being overgrown. BBC Scotland and all of Scotland’s newspapers have nothing at all on flooding. In 2022, BBC Scotland reporters were all over the North-east interviewing the flooded and letting … Continue reading Storm Brann fails to breach even one of Scotland’s flood defences after 18 years of SNP Government but 8 500 fail in England
Corridor care least common in Scotland and most common in Wales and Northern Ireland suggests shoddy trainee emergency doctors survey
The Guardian today has: Corridor care ‘endemic’ in UK, doctors say as study reveals scale of problem The report is based on Understanding corridor and escalation area care in 165 UK emergency departments: a multicentre cross-sectional snapshot study by the Trainee Emergency Research Network TERN in the BMJ, yesterday. The above map has England broken up into regions but it’s clear that put together and averaged, England would have a darker shade than Scotland. The only mention of Scotland in the report: Hospital level surveys with variable methodology from 21 hospitals in Scotland and 15 hospitals in Wales suggest escalation … Continue reading Corridor care least common in Scotland and most common in Wales and Northern Ireland suggests shoddy trainee emergency doctors survey
There is a marked overall decline in youth violence in Scotland but a surge from 2012 in England as Tory austerity kicked in
Professor John Robertson OBA Today’s reporting of apparent surges in youth violence across parts of England bears no resemblance to Scotland other than in the bonfire riots in 2023 and before. What is the long-term youth violence trend in Scotland? Overview of Youth Violence in ScotlandYouth violence in Scotland typically refers to violent incidents (e.g., assaults, robberies, or homicides) involving individuals under 18 as victims, perpetrators, or both. Data comes from sources like the Scottish Crime and Justice Survey (SCJS, a victimization survey), Recorded Crime in Scotland (police data), and cohort studies such as the Edinburgh Study of Youth Transitions … Continue reading There is a marked overall decline in youth violence in Scotland but a surge from 2012 in England as Tory austerity kicked in
The Emma Caldwell Public Inquiry must ask if the Scottish Labour Government of 20 years ago took its eye of the ball
From Emma Caldwell Public Inquiry begins work, published yesterday: The independent Public Inquiry into the investigation of Emma Caldwell’s murder in April 2005 has been formally set-up and begins its work today (9 Dec). Justice Secretary Angela Constance informed Parliament on the formal setting-up date and on the Inquiry’s terms of reference through a Government Initiated Question today. The statutory inquiry will examine what went wrong in the investigation carried out by Strathclyde Police into the murder of Emma Caldwell, including the direction given by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service. It will examine what steps which could reasonably … Continue reading The Emma Caldwell Public Inquiry must ask if the Scottish Labour Government of 20 years ago took its eye of the ball
English schools excluding pupils at twice the rate and expelling infinitely more often than in Scotland with consequent surges in youth crime
Professor John Robertson OBA From School attendance, absence and exclusions statistics 2024-25 published yesterday: Cases of exclusion decreased from 11,673 in 2022/23 to 10,647 in 2024/25. This is consistent with the overall downward trend since 2006/07. The rate of exclusions per 1,000 pupils decreased from 16.6 in 2022/23 to 15.2 in 2024/25. This is consistent with the overall downward trend since 2006/07. No pupils were removed from the register in 2024/25, compared with one pupil in 2022/23. This is the first time there has been no pupils removed from the register since records began in 2002/03. In England, in the same period, … Continue reading English schools excluding pupils at twice the rate and expelling infinitely more often than in Scotland with consequent surges in youth crime
6 505 fewer teachers yet more teachers and still far fewer pupils per teacher to refute Herald’s claim
Professor John Robertson OBA From Pupil and teacher characteristics 2025 published yesterday, the above data revealing a significant fall in pupil numbers yet a small increase in the number of teachers.1 There are 18 pupils for every teacher in England, 18.9 in Wales but only 13.3 in Scotland’s schools. That’s a huge difference that must surely transform the experience in Scottish schools.2 The Scottish Government has managed to support the far better PTR in Scotland through years of a reducing share of Scotland’s revenue being returned to us. Sources: Continue reading 6 505 fewer teachers yet more teachers and still far fewer pupils per teacher to refute Herald’s claim
TB cases in Scotland at less than half that in England and 40% down on last Scottish Labour government
From Tuberculosis annual report for Scotland 2024 published yesterday, the above graph and: In 2024, 266 cases of tuberculosis were reported in Scotland, equating to an annual incidence of 4.8 cases per 100,000 population. Whilst this is a 6.0% decrease in case numbers compared to 2023 (283 cases, 5.1 cases per 100,000 population), it is a 33.7% increase since 2022, (199 cases, 3.7 cases per 100,000 population) and a return to levels last observed in Scotland in 2018. In 2024, 75.2% of tuberculosis cases in Scotland were born outside of the UK, the highest proportion recorded since surveillance began. Of … Continue reading TB cases in Scotland at less than half that in England and 40% down on last Scottish Labour government
NHS Scotland treats 23% more for pain management than NHS England
Professor John Robertson OBA From Waiting times for pain management services Quarter ending 30 September 2025 published yesterday: During the quarter ending 30 September 2025, 5,791 patients were referred to a pain management service. This compares to 5,838 referrals in the previous quarter, a decrease of 0.8%, and to 5,859 a year ago in the quarter ending 30 September 2024, a decrease of 1.2%. During the same quarter, 3,510 patients attended their first outpatient appointment with a pain management service. This compares to 2,745 patients in the previous quarter, an increase of 27.9% and to 2,930 patients seen a year … Continue reading NHS Scotland treats 23% more for pain management than NHS England
Talking-up Scotland returns to Reddit Scotland two years after being banned but I’m quickly spotted as that ‘known nutjob’ and worse
Professor John Robertson OBA Browsing Reddit Scotland, a place where you can say what you like about people’s sanity, I was banned, two years ago for those satirical spoof things I often do. This kind of thing: They said ‘FAKE NEWS!’ He’s trying to fool us! I thought they’d get it. Satire, you know. They didn’t. Today someone posted my piece on school attainment in Scotland and England (at the top). Very soon, I was outed in the terms perfectly acceptable to Reddit: If you can, please share all TuS posts there. Continue reading Talking-up Scotland returns to Reddit Scotland two years after being banned but I’m quickly spotted as that ‘known nutjob’ and worse
Scotland’s schools surging ahead of those in England in literacy and numeracy attainment
Professor John Robertson OBA From Achievement of Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) Levels 2024-25 published today, we see that in Scotland’s schools there have been significant increases in the numbers of pupils achieving the expected levels in the four years since the pandemic.1 Remember these, at first sight, small percentage differences refer to around 50 000 pupils at each level so the 4% improvement in S3 literacy means 2 000 more pupils succeeded last year than in 2021/2022. Scotland’s media have yet to respond. It will be interesting if irritating to see how they try to spin this success down. The … Continue reading Scotland’s schools surging ahead of those in England in literacy and numeracy attainment
Talking-up Scotland 'Albatraz' 