A new literacy commission is to be established by the Scottish Labour Party to look at ways of tackling the estimated 10,000 pupils who currently leave school unable to read or write properly.

Under the plan, a group of experts will be assembled to look at the benefits of synthetic phonics, one-to-one tuition and more vocational courses.

In particular, the commission will look at the success of West Dunbartonshire in tackling illiteracy and look at how the techniques used can be rolled out across Scotland.

Current estimates suggest 25% of the primary school population goes on to secondary without achieving basic literacy requirements - some 15,000 pupils. In addition, a report by schools inspectors in 2003 found only one in three second-year pupils in secondary school had reached required standards in writing.

In West Dunbartonshire, a groundbreaking literacy initiative, running since 1997, has virtually eradicated illiteracy. Pupils have been taught using a number of techniques, including synthetic phonics, and those who have struggled have been given more help.

Since 1997, more than 60,000 children at 58 nursery and primary schools have taken part, with 400 teachers given special training. At the start of the project, 28% of 11-year-olds leaving primary school were functionally illiterate, but that has now been cut to just three pupils.

Wendy Alexander, the Labour leader, said: "Too many of Scotland's children are leaving primary school unable to read or write effectively and urgent action is needed. Labour will take evidence from those who are leading the way in improving schools and make sure that no child gets left behind.

"This will lead to the creation of a literacy commission with representatives from parents groups, teachers and the business community, tasked with finding the best way to ensure that illiteracy is abolished forever in Scotland."

The literacy commission has been set up in the wake of the the Labour-commissioned OECD study into Scottish education, which found that schools do not adequately compensate pupils for the effects of coming from deprived backgrounds.

Stuart Ritchie, director of curriculum at Learning and Teaching Scotland, said: "Reading, writing, listening and talking skills are the stepping stones for children learning throughout their life. The new curriculum guidelines, emphasises the responsibility of all teachers to nurture these core skills."

Maureen Watt, Minister for Schools and Skills, said: "Literacy and numeracy are essential building blocks in a child's education and provide the foundations upon which a vibrant and exciting school experience can be had. Once a child has been equipped with the ability to communicate in words and numbers, then they can embark on a rich learning journey.

"We are placing literacy and numeracy at the heart of Curriculum for Excellence to help young people become successful learners, confident individuals, responsible citizens and effective contributors so that they can make the transfer into the world of work equipped with skills for life."