SIMD Detailed Analysis

Alford Academy Network Area

2013

Contents Alford Academy Network Area ...... 1 Population ...... 3 Poverty ...... 4 Income Deprivation ...... 4 Employment Deprivation ...... 5 Childhood Poverty...... 5 Education ...... 6 Attitudes to Health ...... 8 Life Expectancy ...... 10 Levels of Crime ...... 10

Alford Academy Network Area

The Alford Academy Network Area covers the area highlighted on the map on the next page. It includes 13 schools:

 Alford Primary School  Cluny School  Craigievar School  Dunecht School  Echt School  Keig School  Lumsden School  Midmar School  Monymusk School  Strathdon School  Tough School  Towie School  Tullynessle School

No datazones in Alford Academy Network Area are classified as the 15% most deprived datazones across Aberdeenshire. This report therefore provides an assessment of the population as a unified group.

Population

The Alford Academy Network Area population has increased by 11.8%, rising from 8,846 in 2001 to 9,897 people in 2011. The total population fell by 28 people from 2010 to 2011.

There is an increasing and ageing population within the area; from 2001 – 2011 there was an increase from 1473 to 1946 in the pensionable population. This group of people now account for 19.8% of the population, up from 16.4% in 2001. An increasing and aging population presents unique challenges in delivering services, additional housing and the resulting demand in community facilities.

The population of children in the area has been decreasing in the past 10 years. In 2011, children accounted for 19.5% of the population in the Alford Academy Network Area, a decrease from 21.5 % in 2001.

The increasing older population and falling numbers of children should be monitored over the coming years to identify whether this trend continues. This will impact on where the priorities of this area will lie in the coming years.

Poverty Income Deprivation The rate of income deprivation in the Alford Academy Network Area is 5.6%, lower than the Aberdeenshire average of 7%, and significantly lower than the Scottish average of 13%. This is due to the area having no datazones in the 15% most deprived in Aberdeenshire. The rate of income deprivation rose between 2002 and 2010, but most recently decreased from 7.06% in 2010.

Employment Deprivation The percentage of those in employment deprivation in the Alford Academy Network area is 5.3%, this is lower than the Aberdeenshire average of 6%. Levels of employment deprivation have remained fairly steady since 2002.

Childhood Poverty The level of childhood poverty in the Alford Academy Network area rose marginally between 2009 and 2010, from 6.2 to 5.9%. This is lower than the Aberdeenshire (8.5%) and national (18.6%) averages. This low rate can be attributed to the area having no datazones in the 15% most deprived in Aberdeenshire.

Education The average attendance rate in the Alford Academy Network area in primary schools is 95.8%, this is lower than the Aberdeenshire (96.2%) average and slightly higher than the Scottish (95.2%) average. Attendance rates are lower for secondary schools with the average attendance rate dropping to 93.5%. This is above Aberdeenshire (92.8%) and Scottish (91.1%) averages.

The percentage of S4 pupils who gained English and Maths at SQF Level 3 or above is 95.9%, higher Aberdeenshire (94.5%) and Scottish (93%) averages. Performance in the Alford Academy Network Area is above Aberdeenshire (93.6%) and Scotland

(92.3%), for S4 pupils attaining 5 awards at SCQF level 3 or above (96.7%). Attainment on both measures has remained steady across the Alford Academy Network.

The level of S6 pupils in the Alford Academy Network Area achieving 3 awards at SCQF level 6 or above has fluctuated over the last three years. In 2011, the rate of achievement was 64.7%, below the Aberdeenshire (69.3%) and equal to national (64.6%) averages.

In 2010/11, 94.5% of school leavers went onto a positive destination (Employment, Further Education, Higher Education, or Training). This is above the Aberdeenshire (91.3%) and Scotland (88.8%) averages.

Of the school leavers who did go on to positive destinations (Employment, Further Education, Higher Education, and Training), the majority (39.5%) went into employment, followed by higher education (36.6%), and further education (17.4%). 1.8% of school leavers went into training in 2010/11 in the Alford Academy Network Area.

Attitudes to Health The percentage of women smoking at maternity appointment booking in the Alford Academy Network area is 9%. This is lower than the Aberdeenshire and Scottish averages of 14.7% and 17.1% respectively. Rates have increased since 2008-10.

The current rate is 0.84%, which is lower than both the Aberdeenshire (1.27%) and national (2.04%) averages. The rate has doubled since 2009 (.042) but remains the prevalence of low birth weight in this area remains low.

The level of breastfeeding at the 6-8 week review of babies has risen between 2010 and 2011 and is currently at 62.77%. This is above the Aberdeenshire (45.3%) average, and higher than the rate in Scotland (36.7%).

Life Expectancy The life expectancy of Aberdeenshire between 2006 and 2010 was higher than that of the Scottish average for both males and females. Males were expected to live until 77.9 in Aberdeenshire, and 75.3 in Scotland, whereas females in Aberdeenshire were expected to live until 81.5 in Aberdeenshire and 80.1 in Scotland.

The average life expectancy for men in the 15% most deprived areas in Aberdeenshire between 2006 and 2010 was 72.5, below the Aberdeenshire and national average. Males in the least deprived areas were expected to live above the Aberdeenshire average, living until 78.9 years.

A similar pattern is observed in females, to a lesser extent. Female life expectancy in the 15% most deprived areas was 78.9, 3 years less than the least deprived areas and the Aberdeenshire average.

Levels of Crime The SIMD crime domain rate is based on five indicators of broad crime types: crimes of violence; domestic house breaking; vandalism; drug offence and minor assault and is referred to as ‘SIMD crime’ rather that total crime, as it does not include all recorded crimes.

The average rate of SIMD crimes in the Alford Academy Network area has fallen since 2007/08. In 2011, there was an average of 168 SIMD crimes per 10,000 population. This is lower than the average of 208 in Aberdeenshire and the Scottish average of 453. This may be linked to the lack of any datazones within the area falling into Aberdeenshire’s 15% most deprived areas.