A week after pupils received their exam results, a shocking new survey has revealed nearly a quarter of Scottish youths expect “to end up on benefits”.
A report published by youth charity the Prince’s Trust found children leaving school with poor grades having deep concerns about their future, with nearly one in four (23%) saying they will be unable to find a job and so “end up benefits.”
For UK school leavers with poor grades, the number increased significantly to one in three (34%).
The Prince’s Trust is now calling for more vocational support for those leaving school with few qualifications to help them find jobs.
Almost one in three young people (31%) living in Scotland believe those who fail their exams will struggle to find a job in the future.
Alan Kennedy, acting director of youth charity the Prince’s Trust in Scotland, said: “Thousands of young people’s ambitions are crushed by exam results each year.
“Many of these young people have faced problems at home or bullying at school, so their exam results don’t reflect their true potential.
“We need to do more to support those who are not academically successful, helping them develop vocational skills.
“Government, employers and charities must work together to get them into jobs.
“We need to show young people living here in Scotland that they can be a success, even if they don’t get multiple Standard Grades and Higher qualifications.”
The Prince’s Trust supports disadvantaged young people, more than half of whom have left school with few qualifications.
The youth charity runs intensive training schemes for struggling school leavers, giving them the skills and confidence to find work.
Three in four young people on Prince’s Trust schemes move into work, education or training.
Antonio Simoes, head of HSBC in the UK, who supported the Prince’s Trust research, said: “We know that with the right support and encouragement, young people can achieve their goals and fulfil their potential, regardless of their start in life.”
The research, based on interviews with 2,342 16 to 25-year-olds, reveals a quarter (26%) of those in the UK who leave school with poor grades believe their exam results will “always” hold them back.
Almost one in five young people in Scotland (19%) admit their life would be better now if they had done better at school.
The study also shows how young people with few qualifications often face significant barriers to learning at home.
And almost a quarter of young people in Scotland (24%) admit they will always feel inferior to those who did better at school.