Data from the Scottish Government shows the number of East Lothian young people in higher and further education, training or employment nine months after leaving school is above the national average.
Each figure represents a young person in our area who is establishing themselves in their field of work or study.
New data from the Scottish Government shows that the number of East Lothian young people in higher and further education, training or employment nine months after leaving school is above the national average.
The Annual National Statistics for Follow-Up Leaver Destinations charts the outcomes of all 2019/20 school leavers nine months after they have left school. A ‘positive destination’ is described as moving onto Higher or Further Education, Employment or other activity. The report found that nine months after leaving school:
• 93.5% of East Lothian’s school leavers are in a positive destination (compared to 92.2% nationally)
• 37.1% are in Higher Education (compared to 42.9% nationally)
• 18.3% are in Further Education (compared to 23.6% nationally)
• 3.3% are in training (compared to 3.2% nationally)
• 32% are in employment (compared to 21.3% nationally).
The report recognises that destinations figures may reflect pupils’ choices and the opportunities available to them, which could have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic particularly on employment choices or ‘the impact of the 2020 certification approach on school leaver attainment’.
In East Lothian 4.1% of school leavers are unemployed and seeking work at the point of the report’s compilation in April 2021. This is in line with the national figure. The report also found that the gap between students in the most and least affluent areas (by SMID) was 10.4%, which is above the national average (8.3%).
Cabinet member for Education and Children’s Services Councillor Fiona Dugdale said: “This is an extremely challenging time for all of our young people taking their next steps in education or their first steps on the career ladder. It’s to the credit of each and every one of them that these results are so positive. Each figure represents a young person in our area who is establishing themselves in their field of work or study.
“It also reflects very well on the efforts of our schools, our employability hub East Lothian Works, and our work with partners including Skills Development Scotland and Developing the Young Workforce. We will continue our work together to ensure that all young people in East Lothian have access to the support they need to achieve their goals during and after their school years.”