92% OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN WEST LOTHIAN GO ONTO POSITIVE DESTINATIONS AFTER SCHOOL

92% OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN WEST LOTHIAN GO ONTO POSITIVE DESTINATIONS AFTER SCHOOL

Angela Constance MSP has welcomed new figures that show 92% of school leavers from West Lothian are in positive destinations nine months after finishing school.

Across Scotland, the proportion of school leavers in the 2021/22 cohort accessing further or higher education, employment, training, or an apprenticeship nine months after leaving school is its highest since records began. The number of school leavers in work has also reached a record high of 31.8%.

This year has also seen a reduction in the poverty related attainment gap, with the gap between young people from the most and least deprived areas across Scotland in work, training or further study narrowing to a record low of seven percentage points – down from 18.7 percentage points in 2009-10.

Commenting, Angela Constance MSP said:

“Despite the challenges of the pandemic and the impact of the ongoing Tory cost of living crisis, young people in West Lothian are continuing to achieve and excel, and I welcome that 2,011 young people have went on to secure work, further education or a training post nine months after leaving schools.

“These encouraging numbers are testament to the hard work and commitment of our young people, teachers, and parents – and show that this Scottish Government is delivering on its education commitments and closing the attainment gap.

“Much progress has been made in Scotland to increase opportunities for young people, but the only way to properly tackle the poverty related attainment gap is to tackle poverty – which will always be impossible under this Tory UK government, and their punitive austerity measures.

“Scotland needs independence now, so that it can have the full powers at its disposal to properly address poverty and continue to support young people in Almond Valley to thrive.”

• Latest News