Record level of school leavers find ‘positive route’

The number of teenagers in Scotland leaving school and going on to work, training or further study has reached its highest level.

Initial figures show 91.4% of school leavers between August 2012 and July 2013 went on to one of these “positive destinations”.

Education Secretary Mike Russell said the figures, produced by Skills Development Scotland, gave him “further confidence that we are producing a generation of young Scots capable of great success”.

Announcing the improvement in the proportion of school leavers going on to find work, training or study at college or university, Mr Russell added: “The new figure for positive initial destinations for 2012-13 school leavers gives me further confidence that we are producing a generation of young Scots capable of great success, whatever they move on to.

Larry Flanagan, general secretary of the teachers’ union the Educational Institute of Scotland, said the “very high percentage of young people moving on to a positive destination when they leave school is good news for Scotland and reflects the strong performance of our comprehensive education system”.