Partnership approach transforming young lives in Dundee

An ambitious programme to support 16 to 19-year-old Scots is boosting positive post-school outcomes for youngsters in Dundee.

When Deputy Headteacher Raymond Perry was offered a secondment to lead the implementation of the Positive Destination Framework in Dundee, he jumped at the chance to help make a real difference to the lives of young people in the city.

The post was certainly going to be challenging: ten years ago, when the Annual Participation Measure (APM) was introduced to measure outcomes for 16 to 19-year-olds, Dundee was close to the bottom of the table – 31st out of Scotland’s 32 local authorities.

Across three measures – ‘participating’; i.e. young people in education, employment or further education; ‘non-participating’; young people not engaged in any of the above or ‘unconfirmed’; young people whose status was unknown – the city’s percentages were the among the worst across the whole country.

Framework for success

Mr Perry, whose career in education spans almost 30 years, quickly established a Positive Destinations Framework whereby each of the city’s eight secondary settings has a Core Implementation Group chaired by the school’s deputy headteacher, and including the employability service, the third sector – making up the All in Dundee partnership – and Skills Development Scotland. One of their roles is to identify youngsters who are at risk of leaving school early and not going on to positive destinations.  

Mr Perry said: “They’re identified and supported from second year and start forming relationships with somebody from the core group. They might stay on for another year, because a third sector partner is working with them, or choose a more suitable college course.” 

In addition, Mr Perry chairs a post school group in each of the eight settings; they meet five times a year and focus on youngsters who have left school. 

Mr Perry said: “We go through each of the names that relate to that school in minute detail. If there’s a pre-established relationship with a young person who’s not engaged and in a positive outcome, can we reach out and offer help? 

“It’s been unbelievably successful; I expected young people to say, ‘No, I left school, what does it have to do with you?’ but, actually, around 70% of the time, young people are saying, ‘Thank you. I could do with some help.’”
 

A shared approach

Since the Portal updates in real time, interventions can happen much faster too. Dundee & Angus College share data into it, so if a school spots that a former pupil’s attendance there is falling, it is picked up before the young person drops out. 

Mr Perry said: “We are all super engaged in this, and our success is down to everybody doing their job really well. We are trying to help young people in Dundee improve their lives and there is a real sense of pride in that. 

“The ultimate vision is that more young people will be employed and those who are not quite ready for the world of work will engage with the All in Dundee partnership, with Skills Development Scotland and others, to improve their employability skills and ensure they are better prepared.” 

Through the Portal, Mr Perry and his colleagues now hope to expand the framework into homes where there may be generational unemployment. 

He said: “It is small steps, but if we can reach out to a parent or wider family members too, the positive impact could be very far-reaching. 

“What makes it all work is that Skills Development Scotland are great to work with as an organisation and the 16+ Participation Portal is a fantastic product. Without the Portal, this wouldn’t be happening.”