MSP Gillian Martin welcomes positive destination figures for school leavers in Aberdeenshire

A record 96.2 percent of pupils across Aberdeenshire were in a ‘positive destination’ within three months of leaving school last year.

Aberdeenshire East MSP Gillian Martin has welcomed the latest figures which show that 2,635 school leavers from Aberdeenshire went on to positive destinations including work, training or further study.

Across Scotland, a record 95.5 percent of all pupils went on to a ‘positive destination’ last year.

The statistics show 45.1 percent going on to higher education courses – the highest number since records began in 2009-10 – and the lowest gap between the most and least deprived communities achieving a positive destination since 2009-10.

Commenting Gillian Martin MSP said: “I’m delighted that 96.2 per cent of pupils across Aberdeenshire are going on to positive destinations – whether that be work, training or further study.

“The transition for young people from school to adulthood is vital and the Scottish Government is committed to getting this right for every young person across Scotland, no matter what their background.

“Whether it’s investing in tackling the poverty-related attainment gap. free tuition or introducing the back-to-work Jobs Grant for people aged 16 to 24 – the Scottish Government is taking actions to prioritise young people in Aberdeenshire.

“While opposition parties continue to paint a bleak picture of what young people in Scotland are achieving, there reality is that, despite the impact of Covid-19 real progress is being made as a result of the Scottish Government’s determination to give young people across our country the best start in life.”

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