More Scottish school leavers in positive destinations

Scotland has seen an increase in the number of young people in work, training or further study nine months after they have left school, at 93.1 per cent in 2023-24.

This is an increase from 92.8 per cent, according to the annual Summary Statistics for Follow-up Leaver Destinations. The current figure is at a similar level to the pre-pandemic peak of 93.3 per cent in 2017-28.

The increase over the last year is thanks to an increase in school leavers attending higher (from 37.1 to 38.1 per cent) or further education (21.2 to 21.9 per cent).

Current figures are huge improvements on those from two decades ago, with 85.9 per cent of Scottish young people in positive destinations in 2009-2010.

Education secretary Jenny Gilruth said: “These figures show the proportion of Scotland’s young people achieving positive destinations is almost back to pre-pandemic levels at a near record high.

“The increase among those in Higher and Further Education is hugely encouraging and testament to the hard work of those young people and the extraordinary support provided by Scotland’s teachers, lecturers and other support staff.

“The gap in positive destinations between young people from our most and least deprived communities has more than halve since 2009-10, but this latest data shows we still have more to do. We also know this cohort of young people faced significant disruption to their education during the pandemic.

“A range of support, including from careers advisers and the Developing the Young Workforce network, is available for young people considering their options after school. I am determined to ensure young people can access the right help they need to enable them into a positive destination and this government