1. BASIC SKILLS AND SOCIAL INCLUSION EMILY JONES HEAD OF RESEARCH 10 SEPTEMBER 2015

2. Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) International survey led by OECD, including 166,000 adults (aged 16-65) in 24 countries Internationally agreed assessment in literacy, numeracy and problem solving in technology-rich environments Also survey generic skills such as collaborating with others and organising one’s time, as well as how adults use skills The UK was represented by England and Northern Ireland 01 NIACE BASIC SKILLS AND SOCIAL INCLUSION THE BASIC SKILLS ‘CHALLENGE’ “England and Northern Ireland have some of the highest proportions of adults scoring at or below Level 1 in numeracy. 24.1% of adults score at that level compared to the average 19.0%... Some 16.4% of adults score at the lowest level of proficiency in literacy, similar to the average of 15.5%” OECD (2013)

3. LITERACY PROFICIENCY AMONG 16-65 YEAR OLDS MissingBelow Level 1Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4/5

4. NUMERACY PROFICIENCY AMONG 16-65 YEAR OLDS MissingBelow Level 1Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4/5

5. AVERAGE LITERACY PROFICIENCY OF ADULTS IN ENGLAND, BY AGE

6. LIKELIHOOD OF POSITIVE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC OUTCOMES AMONG HIGHLY LITERATE ADULTS

7. MEAN PROFICIENCY SCORES OF 16-29 YEAR OLDS BY HIGHEST EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT

8. Survey of 1,927 16-65 year olds in Scottish households Based on International Adult Literacy Survey, carried out by the OECD in 1996 Measured prose, document and quantitative literacies 73.3% scored at the OECD level of acceptable literacies for a modern economy at least one of the three scales 26-35 year olds have highest skills levels on average SCOTTISH SURVEY OF ADULT LITERACIES 2009

9. UKCES Employer Perspectives Survey 2014 – 32% school leavers deemed ‘unprepared for work’ UKCES Employer Skills Survey 2013 – Reasons for being unprepared: 21% lack of maturity 3% lack of literacy/numeracy skills OECD A Skills Beyond School Commentary on Scotland 2013 – 13% of 16-19 year olds are NEET – UK average was 7.6% in 2013 SKILLS IN SCOTLAND

10. Are Forum members aware of policy and practice-based responses to PIAAC in Scotland? Would there be any value in undertaking a survey of basic skills in Scotland to ensure that policy and practice can be informed by up-to-date evidence? What the particular challenges facing Scotland are in addressing basic skills needs? Forum members are asked to consider how basic skills provision supports better social inclusion in their own settings? Contributions of examples or case studies would be welcome. QUESTIONS FOR THE FORUM