More young people than ever before are moving into education, training or employment after leaving school, according to newly published Scottish Government figures.

The latest follow up destination statistics for 2024 to 2025 show that 93.5 per cent of school leavers were in a positive destination nine months after leaving school, matching the highest level recorded since consistent records began.

The figures cover young people entering higher education, further education, apprenticeships, training and employment.

The latest increase was driven largely by more young people progressing into colleges and universities.

The proportion entering higher education rose from 38.1 per cent to 40.2 per cent, while those entering further education increased from 21.9 per cent to 22.1 per cent.

The figures also show progress in reducing the gap between young people from the most and least deprived communities.

Among school leavers from the most deprived areas, the proportion moving into a positive destination reached its highest level on record.

The gap between young people from the most deprived and least deprived backgrounds narrowed to 7.6 percentage points, down from 8.3 percentage points the previous year and lower than the position before the Covid pandemic.

Education Secretary Màiri McAllan welcomed the figures and said they reflected the opportunities available to young people across Scotland.

She said:

“These figures illustrate that Scotland is amongst the best places for people to start their careers and pursue their life’s passion after finishing school.

“It’s fantastic to see record-high levels of young people going onto training, education, and employment when they leave school.

“This is testament to the hard work of those young people, teachers and staff that support them.

“Our commitment to free university tuition, generous student support and more apprenticeships means that young people, regardless of the path they choose, have a variety of great opportunities available to them.”

The figures will be welcomed by schools, colleges and training providers across Scotland, particularly at a time when young people face an increasingly competitive employment market.

For thousands of school leavers, the statistics suggest that further study, training and employment opportunities remain within reach, regardless of the path they choose after leaving the classroom.