Initial destinations of senior phase school leavers
This presents data on initial destinations of school leavers from local authority and grant-aided schools in Scotland.
2. National Trends in Initial Destinations of Senior Phase School Leavers
- 93.3 percent of 2015/16 senior phase school leavers were in a positive destination approximately three months after leaving school (compared to 93.0 percent in 2014/15).
- The percentage of leavers in a positive initial destination has increased over the five year period from 2011/12 when 90.1 percent of leavers were in a positive destination.
- 66.9 percent of school leavers continued their education within Higher or Further Education establishments in 2015/16 (66.5 percent in 2014/15).
- There has been a decrease in the percentage of leavers entering training (2.6 percent in 2015/16 compared to 3.8 percent in 2014/15).
- 5.1 percent of leavers are unemployed and seeking employment or training (5.4 percent in 2014/15). There has been a downward trend over the last five years.
2.1. Comparison to previous year
2.1.1. The percentage of senior phase school leavers in a positive initial destination has marginally increased to 93.3 percent in 2015/16 compared to 93.0 percent in 2014/15.
2.1.2. There has been a 1.5 percentage point increase in leavers continuing to Higher Education (40.3 percent in 2015/16 compared to 38.8 percent in 2014/15) but a 1 percentage point drop in leavers continuing on to further education (26.6 percent in 2015/16 compared to 27.6 percent in 2014/15).
2.1.3. There has been a 1.2 percentage point drop in the percentage of school leavers in training (2.6 percent in 2015/16 compared to 3.8 percent in 2014/15).
2.1.4. The percentage of school leavers who are unemployed and not seeking training or employment has slightly increased since last year (1.3 percent in 2015/16 compared to 1.1 percent in 2014/15).
Table 1: Comparison of initial destinations in 2014/15 and 2015/16
| Destination | 2014/15 percent | 2015/16 percent | Percentage point change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Further Education | 27.6 | 26.6 | -1.0 |
| Higher Education | 38.8 | 40.3 | 1.5 |
| Employed | 21.4 | 22.3 | 0.9 |
| Training | 3.8 | 2.6 | -1.2 |
| Voluntary Work | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.1 |
| Activity Agreement | 0.9 | 1.0 | 0.1 |
| Unemployed Seeking | 5.4 | 5.1 | -0.3 |
| Unemployed Not Seeking | 1.1 | 1.3 | 0.2 |
| Not known | 0.5 | 0.2 | -0.3 |
| Any positive destination | 93.0 | 93.3 | 0.3 |
| Number of school leavers | 52,433 | 52,249 |
2.2. Initial destinations of school leavers, 2011/12 to 2015/16
2.2.1. The next section provides information about the trend in initial destinations over the five year period from 2011/12 to 2015/16.
Chart 1. Positive/Other initial destinations by year of leaving (2011/12-2015/16)
* Other destinations includes those individuals where initial destination is not known.
Table 2: Initial destinations of school leavers (2011/12 - 2015/16)
| Destination | 2011/12 percent | 2012/13 percent | 2013/14 percent | 2014/15 percent | 2015/16 percent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Further Education | 26.7 | 27.6 | 26.3 | 27.6 | 26.6 |
| Higher Education | 37.8 | 37.1 | 39.1 | 38.8 | 40.3 |
| Employed | 19.8 | 20.4 | 21.7 | 21.4 | 22.3 |
| Training | 4.5 | 4.8 | 4.0 | 3.8 | 2.6 |
| Voluntary Work | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.5 |
| Activity Agreement | 0.9 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 0.9 | 1.0 |
| Unemployed Seeking | 8.2 | 6.9 | 6.1 | 5.4 | 5.1 |
| Unemployed Not Seeking | 1.3 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 1.3 |
| Not known | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.2 |
| Any positive destination | 90.1 | 91.7 | 92.5 | 93.0 | 93.3 |
| Number of school leavers | 49,744 | 51,632 | 51,335 | 52,433 | 52,249 |
Chart 2. Five year trend in positive initial destinations
2.2.2. The percentage of school leavers in an initial positive destination has increased over the five year period from 2011/12 (90.1 percent) to 2015/16 (93.3 percent).
2.2.3. The five year trend is for a slightly increasing percentage of school leavers to continue their education beyond school in Higher education (37.8 percent in 2011/12 compared to 40.3 percent in 2015/16). This year the percentage of leavers in Higher education was the highest in the reported five year period at 40.3 percent. Over the same period, the percentage of leavers continuing their education in further education has remained broadly constant (26.7 percent in 2011/12 and 26.6 percent in 2015/16).
2.2.4. The percentage of leavers entering employment has slightly increased over the five year period from 19.8 percent in 2011/12 to 22.3 percent in 2015/16.
2.2.5. For the third year in a row the percentage of leavers entering training has fallen and is now at 2.6 percent (compared to 4.8 percent in 2012/13).
2.2.6. The percentage of leavers in activity agreements or undertaking voluntary work has remained low over the last five years (1 percent of leavers were engaged activity agreements and 0.5 percent of leavers were undertaking voluntary work in 2015/16).
2.2.7. The percentage of leavers who are unemployed and seeking work or training has fallen over the last five years (5.1 percent in 2015/16 compared to 8.2 percent in 2011/12). The percentage of leavers who are unemployed and not seeking work or training has slightly increased since last year and now matches the figure for 2011/12 at 1.3 percent.
Chart 3. Five year trend in other destinations
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