One in 20 pupils leave without any credentials

The life chances of Dundee’s young people are being “squandered”, it has been claimed.

Lochee Labour councillor Michael Marra said one in 20 pupils in the city now leaves school without any qualifications.

Although a great proportion of pupils are now achieving at least one Higher, new statistics published by the Scottish Government showed 4.8% left school without passing an exam last year at SCQF 3, the lowest possible level, up from 4.5% the previous year.

Only Clackmannanshire has a higher proportion of pupils – 6% – leaving without a qualification.

In Angus the number of pupils leaving school without at least one pass at SCQF 3 fell from 2.9% to 2.3%.

In Perth and Kinross it fell from 1.9% to 1.7%, while in Fife the figure remained at 2.8%.

Across Scotland, the figures showed the number of school leavers who had at least one pass at Higher level dropped from 62.2% in 2017-18 to 60.5% in 2018-19.

Education Secretary John Swinney described the fall as a “fluctuation” but said the increase in pupils leaving school for a “positive destination” is proof the Curriculum for Excellence is working.

Mr Marra said: “The SNP education record is one of epic failure.

“One in 20 is an appalling rate at which to squander human potential. Scotland is paying the price for an incompetent, failed and feckless nationalist government.”

Dundee City Council children and families services convener Councillor Stewart Hunter said there are a “myriad” number of reasons why children may leave without a qualification, including going to college or taking up an apprenticeship.

The figures also showed the number of pupils achieving at least one Higher rose by 3.1% over the year to 39.2%. This is up 12.4% over the past decade.

Mr Hunter said: “There has been a lot of hard work put in and I am really pleased for our staff that their hard work has shown this improvement.

“But we realise there is still a lot of work to do.”

Scottish Conservative education spokesman Jamie Greene said: “Parents, teachers and pupils are absolutely fed up by this failing SNP government.”