Labour are claiming this year's results represent "significant improvements" in many areas. However, John Mason of the SNP questioned how much was normal year by year variation and how much was real longer term improvement. He said he felt only variations of 3% or more were significant but Director of Education, Ronnie O'Connor, claimed anything over 1% was significant. 

In one of the bizarre results of the new "cabinet" system, the Education Scrutiny Committee will look at these figures in more detail but cannot make any decisions. On the other hand the Executive Committee will make decisions on them but did not spend much time looking at them.