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Scoping Study, Part 2 – Deaf pupils and students

Populations of pupils, students and professionals

Recent developments in policy, legislation, technology and sign linguistics have given cause for renewed optimism in addressing evidence of under-attainment among deaf pupils. Sources of statistical information are needed to track the impact of developments, taking into account the complexities of specific factors likely to make a difference (including factors relating to linguistic access). There are UK wide moves to develop such sources; it is vital that the distinctiveness of the Scottish situation is addressed in any developments. It will also be important to include qualitative information – for example the social integration of individual deaf pupils in mainstream.

Populations of deaf pupils and students need to be clearly contextualised, because criteria for definitions vary: at school-level, policy and legislative developments have been particularly significant; in the case of F&HE there are likely to be distortions because of self-reporting complexities.