Even before today’s results Scotland’s schools narrowed attainment gaps across the board and ‘most deprived’ 14/15 year-olds made major strides in literacy
The gutter press today, above, with the same old un-educated claims. The facts: From Achievement of Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) Levels, 2024-25 published on 9 December 2025: The statistics also provide information on the gap in attainment between pupils from the most and least deprived areas of Scotland: For literacy, there was an increase in the proportions of primary pupils (P1, P4, P7 combined) that achieved the expected level, from both the least deprived and most deprived areas with a larger increase in the most deprived areas. As a result, the gap reached its narrowest ever level of 19.4 percentage points. For primary numeracy, … Continue reading Even before today’s results Scotland’s schools narrowed attainment gaps across the board and ‘most deprived’ 14/15 year-olds made major strides in literacy
Bias by the omission of really good news for Scotland – Record university places for Scots students and acceptances for most deprived young people at new high which also understates the true numbers
With the barest of mentions in the above report, now about to drop off the page after less than 24 hours and not a word in the press front pages, this highly significant news is being omitted because it tells the wrong story for those who cannot see Scotland thrive. From the Scottish Government, popping into the inboxes of every journalist in the country yesterday at 11am yesterday, ignored then and now, this: The total number of 18-year-olds in Scotland who have secured a place at university this year has increased to 17,920 – a record high for Scottish students … Continue reading Bias by the omission of really good news for Scotland – Record university places for Scots students and acceptances for most deprived young people at new high which also understates the true numbers
706 wildfires across England & Wales neither covered nor politicised
As of 28 July 2026, fire and rescue services in England and Wales had responded to 706 wildfires so far in the year (208 of them between 16–28 July alone), according to National Resilience data reported by the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC). https://nfcc.org.uk/fire-chiefs-warn-wildfire-risk-remains-elevated-with-more-than-200-wildfires-recorded-in-last-fortnight/ No comprehensive official total for the number of wildfires in Scotland in 2026 is publicly available yet (as of early August 2026), unlike the National Resilience/NFCC figure of 706 for England and Wales as of 28 July. For context, 2025 was a record year in Scotland with 241 wildfire incidents recorded by SFRS (including major ones … Continue reading 706 wildfires across England & Wales neither covered nor politicised
Shadowy Secretary of State for Scotland cannot read teacher numbers trend as they ‘plummet’ up the way
In the BBC Scotland analysis of today’s exam results this ridiculous claim un-moderated by the editor: Scottish Conservative MP Andrew Bowie said “plummeting teacher numbers and spiralling levels of school violence” had made it a difficult year for pupils. He added: “This has created a challenging environment for pupils to get the grades they hoped for, which is why they deserve a huge amount of credit for achieving great results. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8xn11nv12do Here are the latest numbers with pupil teacher ratios, published in March 2026: 2025 – 53 475 teacher and 13.2/1 pupils per teacher 2024 – 53 412, 13.3/1 2023 … Continue reading Shadowy Secretary of State for Scotland cannot read teacher numbers trend as they ‘plummet’ up the way
Contrary to Jackie Baillie’s lies, Scottish Government will deliver a new Monklands hospital but at a fair price for taxpayers
Scottish Labour and their wee pals at the Daily Record suggesting the SNP Government knew before the 2026 Holyrood Election that they would cancel the construction of a new Monklands hospital after that election. Here are the facts. Documents obtained and reported, ironically, by the Scottish Mail on Sunday, the Daily Record‘s sister paper on 2 August 2026, show that in March 2026, before the election, NHS Scotland Assure (the body that reviews major NHS construction projects) advised ministers after a cost review. It stated that “on current evidence reviewed, NHS Scotland Assure would not recommend immediate progression to construction.” … Continue reading Contrary to Jackie Baillie’s lies, Scottish Government will deliver a new Monklands hospital but at a fair price for taxpayers
There is no vaccination crisis in Scotland
From BBC InDepth today, the above and: Over the last 15 years, childhood vaccination rates have fallen across Britain. The share of five-year-olds in England who have received a four-in-one jab (which protects against viruses like polio and tetanus) is now 81%, down from 89% in 2014. About 84% have received both of their recommended MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) jabs, down from 88% a decade ago. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0qvlw2dd0no In Scotland, the level is better: The 4-in-1 vaccine is offered at 3 years 4 months old and provides the booster dose (4th dose) of protection against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and polio. … Continue reading There is no vaccination crisis in Scotland
Scottish Labour must be confronted on their nuclear strategy as highly dangerous water shortages threaten nuclear power station’s cooling system across Europe and Hungary comes ‘within millimetres’ of shutting down
Once more thanks to Frances McKie for alerting us to this video. As the mighty Danube dries up in the heatwave, there are desperate measures to keep some goods flowing and enough water to cool power plants including nuclear ones. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uw–rQBsi8E Reporting on the same events, the Guardian has: Hungary has come “within millimetres” of having to shut down its nuclear power plant overnight, prime minister Péter Magyar said, as low water levels in the Danube continue to pose challenges for countries in south-eastern Europe. https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/aug/04/europe-drought-extreme-heat-wildfires-climate-crisis-hungary-romania-ceuta-spain-migration-eu-latest-news-updates This is just the latest in a deeply disturbing trend that casts Scottish Labour’s support for UK … Continue reading Scottish Labour must be confronted on their nuclear strategy as highly dangerous water shortages threaten nuclear power station’s cooling system across Europe and Hungary comes ‘within millimetres’ of shutting down
Unregistered children’s homes in England & Wales creating a ‘perfect storm’ for criminals exploiting young people are prevented in Scotland because of Nicola Sturgeon’s ‘promise’ in 2016
Yesterday from Policing Insight, the above and: New research by Anglia Ruskin University into the risks of child exploitation in unregistered children’s homes in England and Wales highlights that with youngsters often “institutionally invisible” in such settings, many are easy targets for organised crime gangs, county lines drug networks and sexual abusers, as the location of such homes and the lack of monitoring create a “perfect storm” of exposure for vulnerable children, reports Policing Insight’s Sarah Gibbons. https://policinginsight.com/feature/unregistered-childrens-homes-create-a-perfect-storm-for-criminals-exploiting-young-people/ We explained why and how this does not happen in Scotland in June 2026: Before anyone accuses me of being duped, read … Continue reading Unregistered children’s homes in England & Wales creating a ‘perfect storm’ for criminals exploiting young people are prevented in Scotland because of Nicola Sturgeon’s ‘promise’ in 2016
37% fewer crimes yet more police officers than in the last days of Labour
From Police officer quarterly strength statistics: 30 June 2026 published today: Source: https://www.gov.scot/publications/police-officer-quarterly-strength-statistics-30-june-2026/ In 2025/2026, total crimes in Scotland have fallen dramatically from around 500 000 in 2007/2008 to 315 357 in 2025/2026, a massive 37% reduction. Yet, despite that, police officer staffing remains slightly higher than that in the time of far greater crime. Source: https://www.gov.scot/publications/recorded-crime-scotland-2025-26/ Continue reading 37% fewer crimes yet more police officers than in the last days of Labour
Drug-related hospital admissions plummet to lowest level since records began, treatment service meets 90% target for last 15 years and world-first opioid overdose reversal programme enters 8th year but BBC Scotland ignore all that and doorstep the minister on one Glasgow Council service closure
From BBC Scotland this morning, the above and: A residential drug service in Glasgow is to close its doors after a long-running financial dispute with its council-owned landlord. The service run by the charity Turning Point Scotland will shut down, while a nearby drug crisis centre will move to the site instead. This had also been run by Turning Point, but will now be taken over by Glasgow City Council and the city’s Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP). It follows a 14-month dispute over rent increases and repair bills with City Property – an arms-length firm that manages the council’s commercial … Continue reading Drug-related hospital admissions plummet to lowest level since records began, treatment service meets 90% target for last 15 years and world-first opioid overdose reversal programme enters 8th year but BBC Scotland ignore all that and doorstep the minister on one Glasgow Council service closure
Talking-up Scotland 