WIREDGOV

Attainment, leaver destinations, school meals and PE statistics published.

A record percentage of young people are in work, education or training after leaving school, according to official figures published yesterday.

The statistics show school leavers in positive destinations in March this year increased to 91.7 per cent from 90.4 per cent in March 2014.

The vast majority (97 per cent) reached literacy at SCQF level 3 or above. The same is true for numeracy. Literacy and numeracy attainment has also increased at Levels 4 and 5.

The figures also show:

• The percentage of school leavers attaining a qualification at SCQF 6 or 7 (equivalent to a Higher or above) increased from 55.8 per cent in 2011/12 and 2012/13 to 58.8 per cent in 2013/14.
• Higher percentages of leavers from Scotland’s most deprived communities, according to the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation, are attaining one or more qualifications at SCQF 4 or better, compared to last year.
• The number of pupils registered for a free school meal has more than doubled to over 259,000, following the introduction of free meals for all P1-3 pupils. Around 80 per cent of P1-3 pupils took a free meal.
• The Healthy Living Survey provides data to monitor the Scottish Government target on physical education - 98 per cent of schools are meeting this target, a rise of two percentage points on last year.
• The proportion of looked after children gaining a qualification at SCQF level 4 or better has gone up seven percentage points since 2011/12, reducing the gap between the attainment level of those who have experience of being in care and their non-looked after peers.
• The proportion of looked after children in positive destinations nine months after leaving school has also increased from 67 per cent to 73 per cent in the last two years.

Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning Angela 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.

“Our action to provide a free school meal to every child in Primary 1 to 3 has had huge take up, helping to ensure that every child in Scotland gets the best possible start while tackling inequalities and saving parents around £380 a year for each child.

“But we know there’s more to do. There is a small number of young people leaving school without qualifications, although an increasing percentage are going onto college and employment. School leavers from disadvantaged areas are improving faster, but there is still a gap between those from the most and least deprived areas and I am determined to tackle this.

“Through measures such as the provisions in our Education (Scotland) Bill, the launch of the Scottish Attainment Challenge backed by the £100 million Attainment Scotland Fund and the development of a National Improvement Framework to improve the evidence available to us, improving attainment remains a top priority.”

Notes To Editors

The latest summary statistics for attainment, leaver destinations and healthy living can be found here:

http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2015/06/2579

The Official Statistics publication ‘Education Outcomes for Scotland’s Looked After Children 2013/14’ is available at:
http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2015/06/6439

Education (Scotland) Bill

http://news.scotland.gov.uk/News/Education-Scotland-Bill-launched-17ac.aspx

Scottish Government action to improve literacy and numeracy

http://news.scotland.gov.uk/News/Action-to-improve-literacy-188b.aspx