Level D should be attainable by some pupils in P5-P6 or even earlier, but certainly by most in P7. These schools are asked to set a minimum target of improving by at least 5 percentage points. In this case, schools are asked to refer to the performance of schools with similar characteristics and set a target for improvement based on how these other schools are performing. Secondary schools will adopt the same principles for setting their targets for S2 pupils. Having derived possible targets in this way, schools and education authorities will together consider them and agree final 5-14 targets which they will send to the HMI Audit Unit in December 1998.
Small schools are a significant feature of Scottish education.
Many are in rural areas and respond to the context in which they work by developing distinctive qualities and approaches. Small schools have an important contribution to make to the drive to raise standards of attainment within their education authority and in Scotland generally. The approaches described in the previous section do not work in the context of small schools, particularly for those with a roll of around 70 or less. The numbers are too small to use percentages sensibly. The approach described in this document builds on the strength of small schools that they know their pupils and their potential for achievement very well.