Post-16 reform
As a Government, we are ambitious for Scotland and ambitious for Scotland’s future. We want our country to be one where people are encouraged and empowered to seize opportunities and meet their ambitions.
To make this happen, we need to make sure that the way we educate our young people once they have left school delivers for them and, given the level of investment, for the public purse as well.
That’s why I’ve set out a number of proposals today aimed at reforming the system of post-16 education in Scotland. These proposals are bold, for that I make no apology. But they are also necessary.
Firstly, we want to make sure access to learning opportunities is equal for all, regardless of background.
As the First Minister has already said, we are making a commitment to ensure every 16 to19-year-old has access to a place in learning. This will help stop young people ending up on the economic scrap-heap before they are even out of their teens.
We will also look at shortening the progression between college and university and introduce higher level and technical apprenticeships. This will be backed up by legislation to widen access to higher education and protect places for Scottish students.
What’s more, we will improve student support by introducing a minimum income of £7,000 for the lowest income students. This is another key part of our work to ensure that the most able learners go to university – based on ability to learn, not ability to pay.
But this is not all about money. We also need to look carefully at the delivery of post-16 education. In many cases, the system is dependent on and delivered by structures that belong in the past. As we move towards the global economy of the future, we need to make sure the system is fit for purpose.
That’s why I want us to move towards a structure of enshrining protecting local access within local groupings of colleges, combined with closer working between colleges and universities. There also needs to be more account taken of the needs and wants of local businesses.
I firmly believe these changes will help to ensure we deliver a truly joined up system of post-16 education that is responsive to the needs of the learner and the economy. That, in turn, will give young people the education to fulfil their ambitions and improve their life chances.
With that in mind, I’d urge you to respond to our consultation or get involved in the debate here on Engage.
Michael Russell
Cabinet Secretary for Education & Lifelong Learning
Further information
Consultation paper – Putting Learners at the Centre Delivering our Ambitions for Post-16 Education