THE Scottish Tories have been slated over “Dickensian” proposals to lower the school leaving age to as young as 14.
Party leader Russell Findlay is set to propose the policy on Wednesday in a speech to mark Apprenticeship Week.
The policy would see youngsters allowed to leave school 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 – and the last time it was 14 was more than 100 years ago, in 1901 – yet Findlay is set to claim the change could “transform opportunities for those young people who are being left behind”.
He is expected to say: “Too many young people become trapped in a system that isn’t working for them. Even worse, far too many exit from it altogether.
“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.”
‘We shouldn’t replicate stigma seen in the US’
Scottish Greens education spokesperson Ross Greer said the Scottish Tories’ proposals would “put many young people at a major disadvantage”.
Greer told The National: “A young person leaving school before they take their first SQA qualifications risks many already disadvantaged pupils ending up with no qualifications at all.
“We should not want to replicate the stigma which exists for those who 'did not graduate high school' in countries like America.
“And that's before you think about the important life skills like financial management, sex and relationships education, how to apply for jobs etc. which should be covered in the second half of high school.
“Missing out on those would put many young people at a major disadvantage.”
Greer added: "Offering more vocational qualifications in school and building closer relationships between high schools and colleges is a better way to make sure every young person gets an education which works for them.
“The Scottish Government could start this work by implementing the Hayward review in full and moving away from our Victorian-era exams system.”
‘Tory values rooted in the Victorian era’
Meanwhile, Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth said the proposals were “Dickensian” and that the Scottish Government did not agree with them.
Commenting, 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.
“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.”
Gilruth pointed towards the fact that the last time the school leaving age was changed to 14 in Scotland was more than a century ago.
She continued: “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.”
