Young People and Transitions to Employment

The national performance indicator on school leaver destinations and our skills strategy, Skills for Scotland: A Lifelong Skills Strategy, both reflect the Scottish Government's wish that all young people stay in learning after 16 since this is the best way of improving their long-term employability.  Skills for Scotland gives a clear commitment to young people about the routes on offer to education, employment and training - and the support they can expect - and recognises the need to focus on young people who are at risk of moving into a negative destination.

The design of Curriculum for Excellence enables schools and their partners to build a flexible system that offers personalisation and choice to meet the needs of all young people, wherever their learning is taking place.  It also provides clear and supported pathways for young people to make successful transitions and to continue learning beyond compulsory schooling.  In the Senior Phase, broadly 15-18, it will become more common for a young person to learn through a range of providers, including schools, colleges, universities, employers, community learning and development, youth work and in other less formal settings. This makes it particularly important to ensure that all young people can experience a coherent curriculum in the full range of settings.

Partners should take account of the local economy and labour markets, ensuring that young people have access to opportunities which enable them to develop the skills, knowledge and enterprising attitudes they will need to meet the challenges of life and work in the 21st century.