Good news for schools Councillor Margaret Cooper
Leavers are doing well
More school leavers in South Lanarkshire are going into further education, training or employment than four years ago.
Figures revealed at an education resources committee meeting show 96.4 per cent of school leavers in 2017-18 went onto positive destinations – 3.4 per cent higher than 2014-15 and 2.4 per cent above the national average.
However, more targeted support in the Clydesdale area has resulted in a 15 per cent increase – to 98.7 per cent – since 201415, while the number of school leavers achieving positive destinations in the Hamilton/Blantyre and East Kilbride/Strathaven areas has dropped in the last year.
Independent group leader Councillor Margaret Cooper (Avondale and Stonehouse) said: “The figures are very good but I am interested in the long-term stability.
“In rural areas it can be more difficult to sustain.”
Larkhall councillor Jackie Burns added: “There has been a significant improvement at Larkhall Academy.
“The work that has been done is quite remarkable.”
Of the 3258 school leavers in 2017-18; 720 went straight into employment, 1461 went into higher education and 755 into further education.
Only 117 pupils did not achieve a positive destination while the rest undertook training or voluntary work.
Cambuslang and Rutherglen had the second highest rate of pupils going into positive destinations at 96.6 per cent – up 2.6 per cent on 2014-15.
In the Hamilton/Blantyre area, 95.4 per cent of pupils achieved a positive destination, down by 0.1 per cent on 2016/17.
East Kilbride/Strathaven had the lowest rate at 94.8 per cent and down by 1.3 per cent on the previous year.
Councillor Fiona Dryburgh was concerned by this and said: “I can see we are above the national average. There is quite a difference between Clydesdale and East Kilbride/Strathaven.
“It is quite a drop in East Kilbride/Strathaven from last year.”
The figures are good but I’m interested in long-term stability. In rural areas it can be more difficult to sustain