Why is this National Indicator important?
The successful transition of all school leavers into positive and sustained destinations is of great importance to both the individual and wider society. The learning provided and accessed during a pupil's school career provides the bedrock for enabling future opportunities to be realised through a combination of the skills, aptitude and personal qualities which enable individuals to lead positive and productive adult lives.
This indicator provides clear evidence of how the Scottish system of education is supporting and enabling pupils to make positive decisions about their future and critically how these decisions are sustained. It also provides important evidence more broadly, on how those organisations across the employment, training, education and vocational sectors are developing and sustaining the opportunities and skills of the young people for whom they have responsibility.
At a national level we know that around 12% of Scotland's 16-19 year olds are currently not in employment, further or higher education or training. Of these, around 8,000 have left school in the last year. These are high figures by international standards. While, for some, this may be a positive choice (such as those taking a gap year) there is strong evidence that many such young people subsequently: fail to achieve their potential; may not find regular, fulfilling employment; may encounter significant health or social problems; or may become involved in criminal activity.
There is a strong association between under-achievement and unemployment. So, in creating improved school leaver destinations which are sustained by the efforts of both the individual and the organisations with which they engage, we will help deliver improvements to the economy, as well as address a range of social issues central to improving the opportunities available to individuals throughout their life.
What will influence this National Indicator?
We know that the vast majority of pupils leave school and enter into positive destinations which build on their skills and enable them to develop as individuals and in how they contribute to the wider society. Making progress is therefore about continuing to develop and provide opportunities for all pupils as they move through their school career and ensuring transitions into adult life are supported. However, critically there continues to be a real need to address the ongoing strong correlation between young people who leave school without positive destinations and, those who are low achievers at school, those who have become disengaged from school, those living in or experiencing deprivation and those young people leaving care.
The Government's wider aim of tackling the causes of poverty and deprivation offer an important intervention that can influence this indicator. So can:
- Early identification of individuals at risk and support for them throughout their time at school.
- The development of a school curriculum that supports the capacities and interests of all young people.
- Effective careers advice and guidance and targeted support, both from schools and other agencies.
- Provision of effective advice, guidance and support for those who have already left school to help them towards positive destinations.
What is the Government's role?
Working in the context of its More Choices, More Chances strategy, the Government is encouraging local authorities, community planning partnerships and other partners, including employers, to undertake a broad range of interventions to address this complex and, until now, intractable issue. The Early Years framework, the development of the Curriculum for Excellence, work to improve the careers support provided in schools and increased support for post-school psychological services all have a role to play in this, together with the activity outlined in the outcome agreements currently being discussed with local authorities and community planning partnerships.
How are we performing?
This indicator is directly monitored by data developed by Skills Development Scotland on the destinations of school leavers roughly 9 months after the end of the relevant school year. The survey was published for the first time on 24th June 2008 and provides detail on sustainable destinations. The results show that 87.0% of school leavers in 2006/07 were in a positive destination in the March/April after leaving school.
As this is the first year in which follow up survey data is available it is not possible to determine direction of travel. Therefore, until further school leavers follow up data are published in 2009, data on initial school leaver destinations, after approximately 3 months, will be used as a proxy measure for this indicator. The latest data from this publication shows that 86.4% of school leavers in 2006/07 were in positive destinations at September 2007. Between 2005/06 and 2006/07 there was an increase of just over 1 percentage point in the proportion of leavers entering higher education, further education, employment or training.
Source: Destinations of Leavers from Scottish Schools
Note (1): 'Other known destinations' includes those leavers who are unemployed and seeking employment or training. Leavers who are unemployed but are not seeking employment or training (for a range of reasons such as sickness, prison, pregnancy, caring for children and other dependents or voluntary work) are also included.
Note (2): Leavers going onto voluntary work are included under 'other known destinations' for comparability with previous trends. From 2006/07 these leavers can be identified separately and included with other positive destinations where necessary.
Methodology
This evaluation is based on: any difference within +/- 1 percentage point of last year's figure suggests that the position is more likely to be maintaining than showing any change. An increase of 1 percentage points or more suggests the position is improving; whereas a decrease of 1 percentage points or more suggests the position is worsening. Changes resulting from the improved recording of unknown destinations were also taken into account in this evaluation.
For information on general methodological approach, please click here.
Further Information
2007 Spending Review Technical Note
Statistics Topic Page
Who are our partners?
Community Planning Partnerships
Employers
Colleges
Local Authorities
Schools
The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework Partnership (SCQF)
Skills Development Scotland
Voluntary sector organisations
Related Strategic Objectives
Smarter
Healthier
Wealthier and Fairer