Tories propose dropping school leaving age below 16

The minimum age for leaving school in Scotland should be lower than 16, the Scottish Tories have said.

Party leader Russell Findlay will use a speech during Apprenticeship Week on Wednesday to propose the policy, which would see youngsters allowed to leave as young as 14, but required to go on to either an apprenticeship or college.

The leaving age in Scotland has been 16 for decades, but Findlay is expected to claim the change could “transform opportunities for those young people who are being left behind”.

“Too many young people become trapped in a system that isn’t working for them. Even worse, far too many exit from it altogether,” he is expected to tell a think tank in his speech.

“This is not about writing off these young people. It is the very opposite of that.

“It is about guiding each individual onto the path best suited to their aspirations.

“It is about giving young people an opportunity to continue in a form of hybrid education that is better suited to their talents.

“Upon leaving school at 15, maybe even 14, they would still be required to stay in education – but it would be a form of education that works for them.

“A fast track to opportunity, whether college or an apprenticeship.

“By developing our proposal hand in hand with businesses, we could make Scotland’s economy fit for the future.”

Findlay will be joined by the party’s education spokesman Miles Briggs on a visit to an apprenticeship programme on Wednesday following the speech.

Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth said: “These reckless plans were proposed by the Scottish Tories in 2011 – and were soundly rejected by the Scottish people. The Tories should say what they mean – they want to see working class children leave school at 14 and leave academic pursuits to the middle and upper class. That is not an approach this government will agree with.

“We will continue to take action to ensure every child in Scotland no matter their background has the opportunity to succeed in whatever path they choose.

“That’s why we’re already seeing record numbers of vocational qualifications earned by pupils in our schools – and record numbers of Scottish students accepted to university.

“The last time the school leaving age was changed to 14 was over a century ago. Tory values may be rooted in the Victorian era – but we will not allow them to drag our education system into a bygone age with this Dickensian policy. As ever, what is common sense to the Tories makes no sense to anyone else.”