During Portfolio Questions in the Scottish Parliament I tackled the Education Secretary on tackling the attainment gap in Fife and used the opportunity to highlight the launch of Fairer Fife Commission’s report ‘Fairness Matters’ which took place this week in Kirkcaldy.

The Fairness Matters report recommends that “all schools in Fife…develop and deliver a plan for significantly reducing the educational attainment gap…based on what is proven to work and with dedicated financial and in-kind support.”

The report is right to highlight the work that needs to be done to address inequality and poverty throughout the Kingdom and I welcome their recommendations. They will draw together partners and provide a focus for tackling poverty in the region.

Fife Council has made great strides in tackling educational attainment in our schools and their work is a positive example for other local authorities throughout Scotland.

However until poverty and the disadvantages it brings are fully eradicated we must focus efforts and resources on tackling it. The recommendations in Fairness Matters on tackling attainment must be pursued by all involved.

Fife Council can only do so much by themselves, particularly at a time of tightening budgets, which is why I have called on the Scottish Government to look at the recommendations from Fairer Fife Commission and work with Fife Council to ensure they have the resources available to make the positive changes needed.

I welcome that six primary schools in Fife are receiving support from the attainment Scotland fund but if we are to fully tackle this problem then more must be done. That is why this report must be considered by the Scottish Government.

It is only by working together will we be able to fully tackle poverty in Fife and meet the goal of a Fife where everyone will be able to reach their full potential regardless of the circumstances they are born into.

You can read the report here: http://publications.1fife.org.uk/uploadfiles/publications/c64_Fairness_Matters_Report_2015.pdf