Record number of school leavers in work

A RECORD number of Scottish youngsters are getting a job or apprenticeship when they leave school, if they don’t go to college.
A record number of school leavers are getting jobs or apprenticeships. Picture: ContributedA record number of school leavers are getting jobs or apprenticeships. Picture: Contributed
A record number of school leavers are getting jobs or apprenticeships. Picture: Contributed

And hundreds more Scottish pupils are leaving school with at least one Higher pass, official figures have shown.

Literacy and numeracy levels are also on the rise among pupils.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The improvement has been hailed as “very encouraging” by Education secretary Angela Constance.

The number of school leavers in “positive destinations” in March this year increased to 91.7 per cent from 90.4 per cent in 2014.

And a growing number of pupils from Scotland’s most deprived communities are getting one or more passes in the new National exams, compared to last year.

Ms Constance said: “It’s very encouraging that the percentage of young people leaving school to go into work, education or training is at a record high and the vast majority are reaching SCQF level 3 literacy and numeracy or above.

“A greater proportion of school leavers from our most deprived communities are also achieving qualifications at level 4 or better and we are closing the attainment gap for looked after children.

“We want our young people to have the best possible chance of having a good job and career and we are creating stronger links between schools, colleges and employers to help achieve this.”

Around 80 per cent of P1-3 pupils took the free school meal they were entitled to after this was introduced by the Government for all pupils in this age group.

And almost all schools across Scotland are meeting targets on physical education of two hours in primary school and two periods (100 minutes) in secondary.

Related topics: