Summary Statistics for Attainment and Initial Leaver Destinations - Data Sources and Methodology 2025

Section 9. UK Comparisons

9.1 Attainment

Scotland has a different set of qualifications to the rest of the United Kingdom (UK) and comparisons cannot be made directly. Scotland, and the other UK countries, participate in the Programme for International Assessment (PISA) survey on education performance.

9.2 Leavers

The information presented in the school leaver initial destinations publications is for young people who have left school in Scotland. In England and Wales information is also collected on school leaver destinations, but these statistics are not directly comparable as they use different methodologies.

For example, the Scotland initial destination figures use a snapshot of status as at October, while figures for England and Wales consider the sustained destination over a six-month period (October – March).

Information is also collected in England and Wales on participation of 16-18 year olds in education, employment or training at a snapshot in time. However these figures include all young people of ages 16-18 irrespective of whether they were a school leaver or not. As a result direct comparisons cannot be made.

Additionally, in Northern Ireland (NI), statistics are published on destinations of school leavers, but due to differences in methodology direct comparisons cannot be made. For example, the NI destinations collection is based on a survey of destinations manually inputted by schools. The timing of the collections is also different: NI destinations are as at November/December, compared to October for initial destination statistics in Scotland.