Young people in Scotland will have access to an online account with personalised support in choosing courses and planning their careers, according to new government proposals published today.

From 2019, they will be able to record their qualifications and skills in new learner accounts, and will also be able to access help to plan the next steps in their training. The move, announced by education secretary John Swinney, is one of 17 recommendations of the Scottish government’s Learner Journey Review, which considered the routes available to 15- to 24-year-olds in the education system.

The recommendations also say young people should receive a better balance of work-based and academic skills informed by employer engagement. And improved collaboration between schools, colleges and universities should enable greater flexibility for young people to move from S5 to year one of a degree, S6 to year 2, and from college into years 2 and 3 of university.

‘No single route’ to career success

Mr Swinney said school leavers now had a widening range of opportunities available - from industry-led technical professional options tolong-standingg well-established academic routes. “But what is clear is there is no single route to success in life,” said the education secretary.

“Ensuring the right advice, support and guidance fits seamlessly around a pupil is vital. Schools, colleges, universities and employers must work together to help young people navigate what is, rightly, a wide and varied range of post-school opportunities.”

The National Union for Students said the review had the potential to make the education system more equitable. Jodie Waite, NUS Scotland vice-president for education, said she hoped it would be “the start of the process to make Scotland’s education system simpler and, crucially, fairer”.

“Our education system offers multiple fantastic routes for learners into work or further study. We hope to see significant changes made in the years ahead to ensure learners know, from a young age, of the many opportunities open to them, and can appreciate the true value of education, wherever and however it is delivered.”

‘Students need more support’

She added it was “not enough” to get people through the doors of universities and colleges. “In the face of rising living costs, students need the financial, academic, and welfare support to remain, and succeed, in education once they’ve got there.”

Shona Struthers, chief executive of Colleges Scotland, said it was “in everyone’s interests to establish a simpler and more efficient education system which is focused on improving the learner journey and experience”.

“Pathways connecting schools, colleges, universities and employers have been improving, and the recommendations from this review map out ways to further increase the number of people successfully navigating the system.”

She said the review rightly identified ways to remove the current unnecessary duplication at SCQF level 7, which she said cost students time and taxpayers money without any additional educational benefit, “and instead capitalise on the available multi-entry points Scotland’s flexible degree system provides”.

Mike Cantlay, chair of the Scottish Funding Council, said: “This report addresses crucial issues for learners and our education system. Getting our learner journeys right will transform lives.  We welcome the recommendations and look forward to working with our partner agencies on implementing them.”