This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Wendy Alexander Welcomes Majority Of School Leavers Going To Further And Higher Education For First Time Ever
19/12/2000
Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning, Wendy Alexander today welcomed the increase in young people from publicly funded schools continuing into full-time further or higher education.
For the first time over half of school leavers continued their studies in further or higher education.
Statistics published today on the Destinations of Leavers from Scottish Schools : 1997-98 to 1999-2000 indicate that:
- Over half (51 per cent) of the young people who left publicly funded schools continued into full-time further or higher education;
- In just seven years between 1992-93 and 1999-2000, the percentage of school leavers entering higher or further education increased from 40 per cent to 51 per cent.
In welcoming the figures, Ms Alexander said:
"The figures published today indicate that last year, for the first time, over half of youngsters leaving school in Scotland carried on into further or higher education.
"Now one in three Scots school leavers goes into higher education. While this is excellent news, we cannot be complacent. The pattern of destinations can vary widely from local authority to local authority and school to school.
"We are determined, however, that all young people should have their best ever chance to go to university or college next year. These figures are the first sign that we are turning around past prejudices whereby less than one in ten of Scottish university entrants came from a semi or unskilled household.
"This commitment to continuing education is backed with the highest level of resources ever available. More students will have help to stay on at school. We are extending the Education Maintenance Allowance scheme being piloted in Ayrshire which supports youngsters to stay on at school and consider continuing education. We will also have in place support packages, from next year, to provide additional support and bursaries for those from low income families. And we are encouraging further and higher education institutions to work together with schools to overcome perceived barriers.
"For the first time ever this year we are providing funding for more places at our higher education institutions and colleges to ensure a positive learning experience and successful completion of a course.
"Altogether, this means that those who work hard will have their best chance ever of continuing their education, successfully completing their studies and fully contributing to, and benefiting from, Scotland's burgeoning knowledge economy."
BACKGROUND
1. The Statistical Bulletin, Destinations of Leavers from Scottish Schools : 1997-98 to 1999-2000 is a new publication providing information on the destinations of school leavers from Scottish secondary schools. In previous years this information was published by the former Audit Unit of Her Majesty's Inspectors of Schools in a report in the Annual Information on Schools (AIRS) series called Leaver Destinations from Scottish Secondary Schools.
2. Information on the destination of young people leaving school is collected from the Careers Services for publicly funded schools, and directly from individual independent schools.
3. The new student support package will be available to Scots who enter full time higher education in Scotland from Autumn 2001.
4. The Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) is designed to encourage people from low income households to remain in post-compulsory education and has been piloted in East Ayrshire since August 1999. The allowance is based on household means test and signing an acceptable learning agreement by young person. 900 youngsters have received EMA in the first year and early evidence it is having a positive influence on behaviour and attitude to work. The Executive is carrying out research on young people's decisions to stay on at school, their attitude to school or college, attendance and achievement rate and is considering the extension of the pilot.
5. Wendy Alexander has announced that ?18million over the next three years is earmarked in the recent spending proposals for SHEFC for widening access. This is to support an additional 800 places at higher education institutions and the development of a mechanism to provide additional funding to institutions which reflects the places which are taken up by those from under represented groups. The detail of this is currently being developed by SHEFC.
6. There will be additional places in FE Colleges next year as a result of the commitment to an additional 40,000 places by 2002 made in the last CSR.
News Release: SE3262/2000
19 Dec 2000