Positive futures for Glasgow school pupils
AT St Roch’s Secondary teaching staff are absolutely committed to making sure every school leaver has a positive destination.
A team made up of teachers, pastoral care workers, an attendance officer and employability staff have been working with each individual pupil to help them into further education, work or training.
And the latest figures from the school show just what an effect that work has had.
The Royston school’s most recent destination figures sit at 97.5 per cent, higher than the Glasgow average and the national average.
A total of 87 per cent of pupils come from SIMD 1 and 2 – the most deprived postcodes in Scotland – making the achievement even more remarkable.
And headteacher Stephen Stone says it is not only about securing a positive destination for pupils but securing a “high quality” positive destination.
Only two of the last leavers cohort did not have a place to move on to.
The headteacher said: “One of those two did have an offer but we felt there would be something better for him right round the corner.
“If we had pushed him to take that initial offer then our figure would have been 98.7 per cent – but we are here for the young people, not to boost our figures.”
Across Glasgow there has been a concerted effort to ensure young people are leaving school with positive opportunities ahead of them.
City-wide, work is paying off: 94.6 per cent of school leavers went to a positive destination – the best number ever – up from 92.3 per cent last year.
The national figure is 95.05 per cent. The proportion going to further and higher education has continued to improve and is now 68.7 per cent – above the national average for the second year in a row.
Pupils unemployed and seeking work is at its lowest ever percentage – 3.89 per cent. In 2007/08 it was 13.6 per cent and in 2003/04 it was 19.7 per cent
There were 4346 school leavers and Glasgow City Council’s education department knows the destination of each and every one of them – for the very first time ever.
At St Roch’s, the school’s Pupil Equity Funding (PEF) was invested in Saturday classes, which run from October to Easter. Teachers volunteer their time to come
Picture: Jamie Simpson in and support weekends.
There is also a programme of extra-curricular activities tailored to what pupils need and want to do.
This year the percentage of pupils going on to further education has fallen... only because so many are now going on to higher education.
While St Roch’s is clearly a city success story, Mr Stone said there is more to be done.
He added: “After 13 years in school we should be getting that right for them and there is a determination that we will get our figure up to 100 per cent.”
Councillor Chris Cunningham, city convener for education, skills and early years said: “These destination figures are the best ever recorded for Glasgow’s young people and I’m delighted for our pupils and the impact this will have on their lives.
“This is an excellent achievement and I’m so proud of the dedication and commitment of our teachers and school staff who’ve helped the young people reach their goals.
“For the second year in a row more young people – 68.7 per cent – than the national average are going to further and higher education and which is further proof that in Glasgow, we are taking great steps in closing the attainment gap.” pupils at