16 + Learning Choices

Welcome to The Highland Council's 16+ Learning Choices information site

16+ Learning Choices is the model for helping young people stay in learning post-16, since this is seen as the best way to ensure their long-term employability.

16+ Learning Choices is a guaranteed offer of a place in post-16 learning for every eligible young person who wants it. It is an integral part of Curriculum for Excellence and is central to facilitating delivery of the national indicator for positive and sustained post-16 destinations.

16+ Learning Choices is a universal model for all young people leaving any episode of learning, regardless of setting and including compulsory education, during the senior phase of Curriculum for Excellence.

For young people, 16+ Learning Choices will translate into an offer of post-16 learning well in advance of their school leaving date and before leaving any subsequent episode of learning during the senior phase. In line with Curriculum for Excellence, the offer of learning will focus on personalisation and choice, reflecting individuals' needs and aspirations. Importantly it will encompass relevant support to help young people make effective learning choices, and to progress on the path of lifelong learning.

16+ Learning Choices is for every young person and gives particular attention to those who are at risk of moving into a negative destination. Effective delivery, therefore, requires building on wider activity to support young people needing more choices and chances, embracing the principles and practice around Getting it Right For Every Child and the Additional Support for Learning Act.

From all partners, it demands multi-agency collaboration, with robust systems and shared processes to provide the right learning and support for all young people, and with ongoing tracking and monitoring of individuals, so that they can access, sustain and progress in their learning choice.

In Highland, all secondary and special schools have a senior member of teaching staff who has overall responsibility for implementation of 16+ Learning Choices. 

In addition, schools are currently required to do the following:  (see also 16+ Learning Choices Highland Schools’ Checklist)

1. The school convenes and facilitates 16+ Partnership Meetings at appropriate times in the year, in particular November, to identify summer leavers, and June, to identify winter leavers. 
2. Partners include Skills Development Scotland (careers advisors) and Youth Development Services (youth worker). They may also include the local college and any other key local learning providers; Educational Psychologist; Social Work Services; housing representative; mental health worker.
3. There is transition planning for all young people with ASN.
4. Child’s Plan or other meetings focused on a young person’s transition have SDS careers advisor present.
5. Skills Development Scotland informed about leavers requiring support in good time – up to nine months before the leaving date in the case of ASN pupils.
6. Leaving dates and pupil destinations entered on Phoenix for summer leavers by 5th September, for winter leavers by 20th January.
7. Skills Development Scotland informed about all other leavers within 5 days of their leaving date.