Wednesday June 22nd 2016
The percentage of young people in Midlothian leaving school and going on to a positive destination such as further education or a job is up 3.3% on the same period the previous year. This is our highest ever recorded figure for sustained destinations and is the first time the sustained destinations figure has been above the national average.
The figures, collated by the national skills body, Skills Development Scotland, show that in June 2015, 93% of school leavers in Midlothian had, for example, found a job, enrolled in college or training or secured another positive destination such as volunteering. This compares with 89.7% during the same period in 2014 and is 8% higher than the 2011/12 figure.
Nationally, 92% of school leavers are in a positive destination.
Councillor Bob Constable, Midlothian’s Cabinet Member for Education, said: “The rise of 8% from 2012 is a fantastic achievement for Midlothian and testament to the hard work and commitment of pupils, staff and our partner agencies such as further education colleges.
“Our ambition is to see 95% of school leavers go onto a positive destination.
“Numerous initiatives are underway to support young people. For example, we recently worked with the Regional ‘Developing Young Workforce’ Group of the chambers of commerce on a jobs roadshow in the National Mining Museum Scotland. The event was one of three roadshows across the Lothians that saw more than 850 pupils meet up with 100 recruiting businesses.
“We have also supported 70 young people to secure a positive destination by means of our new pathways in child care, retail, college, youth work, employability, army, sport and leisure and music and rural skills.”
Cllr Constable urged every young person who has left school but feels in need of extra support to get in touch. He said: “You can either phone the council’s Lifelong Learning and Employability Service 0131 271 3923/3450 or get in touch with Skills Development Scotland on 0800 917 8000.”
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