MORE pupils than ever before are leaving Glasgow's schools and going on to a 'positive destination' of work, training or further and higher education.

New Scottish Government figures show that the city's secondaries achieved a 96.2% figure against a national average of 93.3%.

And two schools - St Roch’s Secondary and the Ardsgoil Glasgow Gaelic Secondary School - gained a perfect 100% score.

Councillor Chris Cunningham, City Convener for Education, Skills and Early Years said: “Glasgow’s positive destination figures are a joy to see and especially after the last two, very challenging years and the impact the pandemic has had on our young people.

“Not only are we are above the national average for the first time at 96.2% and with more of our young people than ever before going on to higher education, but this year the stats show that two schools have recorded 100% positive destinations.

“I am so proud of our senior pupils and the school and HQ staff who have helped make this happen.

“Our young people deserve the very best opportunities and Glasgow schools are providing learning and teaching that is influencing the correct future pathways that meet the needs of every pupil.”

Education bosses have developed a firm focus on positive leaver destinations over the past few years, aiming to ensure every young person goes on to a high quality destination after school.

This has included having Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) in every high school, funded by the Young Person Guarantee to develop the Young Workforce, with support continuing for a year after leaving school.

Glasgow Times: Drumchapel High School pupils Hafsa Safi, Ebony Harkin, Elizabeth Reid and Fraser Lei Picture: Colin Mearns

For pupils who are disengaged from education, the Towards Better Futures Next Steps programme has been developed to engage teenagers in vocational and employability programmes.

Schools also deliver the Routes to Awards and Destinations programme for disengaged young people still on the school roll.

The scheme aims to engage young people who are likely to leave to a negative destination and support them to raise their aspirations and gain qualifications.

For vulnerable young people there is a college mentor based in each Glasgow college who helps young coming from Glasgow schools.

At Drumchapel High School, where head teacher Madelaine Baker took over last year, a team effort has ensured young people achieved their highest positive leaver destination figures to date.

A total of 98.59% of pupils have gone on to training, employment and education - with 40.85% going on to university.

But for Madelaine, the message for her pupils is that all quality post-school opportunities are equally valued.

She said: "We put just as much emphasis on apprenticeships and employment as further and higher education - we're proud of any young person who's leaving school with a destination they value.

"At a very basic level this is partly why we educate.

"We want young people to come out of school with qualifications but also with aspirations and with a connection to their role in society, so we want them to see themselves as someone who can contribute."

Drumchapel High works with pupils, parents and agencies outside the school to make sure young people build confidence and have an understanding of what might come next for them.

She added: "The team around the child has really grown over the past few years and they are all working together to make sure we're getting the right opportunities for the children before they come to that end point in school.

"One of our school values is ambition so from the get-go we're talking about what are our ambitions for our young people and their ambitions for themselves.

"We want to have them in a position that when they leave school they become a proud and functioning part of their own society."