GLASGOW schools have scored a "best ever figure" with the number of pupils staying in positive destinations after leaving schools.

Data was collected in October 2020 of which pupils were going on to further and higher education, work, training or volunteering.

On April 4 the follow up destinations for all young people were collected again and showed a dip of just 0.6% from the initial 92.2% figure.

A report by Maureen McKenna, executive director for education, describes this as "a best ever figure for Glasgow".

The report adds: "It is the smallest ever reduction between initial and follow up destinations for Glasgow School Leavers and is an improvement of 1.6% on last year’s follow up destinations."

The School Leavers Follow Up (SLFU) Follow up Destinations is a statistical return undertaken by Skills Development Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Government.

A Glasgow City Council spokeswoman said: “There’s no denying that last year was difficult for everyone but especially our senior pupils with the disruption to learning and the cancellation of exams.

“Despite the pandemic, our school leaver destination statistics remain very strong with a smaller than usual dip in the follow up figures - with more young people than ever before going to further and higher education.

“The committee report also outlines the success of the department’s Towards Better Futures campaign that brings together a partnership across the city with the main focus of making sure Glasgow’s young people are given every possible opportunity to improve their live chances.”

The Glasgow figure is equal to the national figure of 92.2% for the first time.

This figure varies across the country from 89.5% in Aberdeen City to 97.1% in the Western Isles.

Statistics in the report, which will go in front of councillors at committee on Thursday, show almost all of those who started in higher education still being there six months later.

There is, however, a marked difference in the follow up positive leaver destination figures of those in the most deprived and least deprived areas.

In the most deprived areas the number drops to 91.3% while in the most affluent areas that rose to 96.1%.

Girls were more likely to stay in positive destinations than boys with the number of girls still being in positive destinations at 93.6% and boys at 90.9%.

The data also shows a higher percentage of schools leavers who identify as BAME have positive destinations than those that identify as white.

The report adds: "This would correlate with our performance analysis which shows that, overall, pupils that identify as BAME perform better in national qualifications than those who identify as white."

Work has been ongoing in schools to improve leaver destinations with the Towards Better Futures team setting up a structured approach to helping young people after they leave school.

To manage the process of identifying, supporting and tracking young people, a strategic tracking group was set up with representatives from Towards Better Futures and Skills Development Scotland.

This group met fortnightly to analyse the data on the destinations of school leavers and those in negative destinations to create a plan to support them.

A dedicated Towards Better Futures Next Steps manager post was funded and the officer led the development of interventions and programmes for young people and worked with young people to help them identify their aspirations and next steps.

A range of training programmes were delivered for young people and included health and beauty; sport and fitness; and creative arts.

A new online training programme ran in March and April 2021 with a timetable of online sessions including CV writing, interview skills and had training providers showcasing their upcoming training programmes and how to apply, employer sessions to highlight upcoming vacancies, volunteering opportunities and how to manage your money sessions.

To help young people feel connected during the pandemic a Facebook page was set up to help pupils get in touch with the Towards Better Futures team.

This was also the first year where Developing the Young Workforce coordinators were based in school and the first year with college mentors supporting vulnerable young people in college placements.

Some 109 young people registered for college mentor support in 2020-2021, 89% of service users either sustained their college place or progressed into another positive destination.