Renfrewshire has been ranked among the best-performing local authorities in Scotland for helping young people move into work, training and further education after leaving school.
Councillors heard at a recent meeting of Renfrewshire Council’s Education and Children’s Services Policy Board that 97.91 per cent of school leavers entered a positive destination in 2024/25, placing Renfrewshire second among Scotland’s 32 councils.
The figures were presented as part of the council’s latest Insight report, which tracks attainment and outcomes for young people across Renfrewshire schools.
The meeting also heard Renfrewshire was the highest-performing local authority in Scotland for positive destinations among school leavers from the most deprived communities.
Speaking after the meeting, Education Convener Councillor Emma Rodden said providing young people with the right support was key to ensuring everyone could fulfil their potential.
She said: “We know things are extremely challenging for our young people at the moment. With their schooling impacted by the Covid pandemic and cost of living pressures, we know not every young person will have access to the same opportunities. Some will also have caring responsibilities or be care experienced themselves, so we’re working hard to ensure the right support is available so that all our young people have opportunities to thrive and fulfil their potential.
“We work extensively to provide our young people with the skills and opportunities they want and need. This is done through working with our schools, employment support providers, local businesses and national agencies.”
Councillor Rodden said school staff, careers advisers and employment services all played an important role in helping young people move into positive destinations.
She added: “Renfrewshire school staff provide daily support to young people, working hard to ensure they go onto a positive destination. I’m proud that some of our schools have 100 per cent of their young people going into positive destinations. A huge part of that work is supported by employment services on top of what our school career advisers do.”
The council’s Develop the Young Workforce (DYW) programme has been running for 10 years and has widened opportunities available for young people through a variety of pathways, including enterprise, construction and creative industries.
The Career Ready programme offers paid summer internships, helping young people gain confidence and workplace experience while being supported by mentors. Since it began in 2023, 41 students have taken part, with a further 23 due to begin internships this summer.
The Renfrewshire Future Pathways Programme also gives young people the opportunity to learn about careers in the creative and cultural sectors. Delivered in partnership with the University of the West of Scotland, West College Scotland and OneRen, the programme benefits more than 250 third-year pupils each year.
Councillor Rodden added: “We work with Morrisons Construction, McTaggart Construction, McKenzie Construction and BAM Construction to provide construction opportunities. This supports young people to go on site visits, gain CSCS training, take up placements, and learn about the construction industry. The Learning Estate Programme across Renfrewshire also provides opportunities for our young people to access work-based learning experience while contributing to the future of our school estate.”
Information and advice on jobs, careers and volunteering is available on Renfrewshire Council’s website, here: https://www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/jobs-careers-and-volunteering. People can also get help with money and benefits, here: https://www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/benefits-and-money/help-money-and-benefits.