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Data collected is recorded as a collective for 16–24-year-olds and not broken down by funding stream. Therefore, we are not able to provide a breakdown of training opportunities that are funded through Young Person’s Guarantee. Our Devolved Employment Services: statistical summaries, which included data on‎ 16–24-year-olds, are published quarterly and are available on our gov.scot website.

Awareness and promotion of the Young Person’s Guarantee among employability staff was achieved using existing networks and communication channels.

The Scottish Government works in partnership with Local Government and Local Employability Partners to offer key worker led, person-centred holistic support. At a local level they work in communities and with partners to deliver employability services to those who are experiencing or are at risk of becoming long term unemployed. This includes people with disabilities or long-term health conditions. We engaged with all Scottish Local Authorities when we undertook reviews in the delivery of Supported Employment and Individual Placement and Support (IPS) to consider the most appropriate approach for improved outcomes.

Supported employment including IPS can offer assistance to those requiring intensive and specific help. Officials are working with a range of partners to develop and expand our Supported Employment offer which is currently delivered through Fair Start Scotland. From 2024 this type of support will be made available through our No One Left Behind approach with local partners.

In addition, we are considering the recommendations from the implementation evaluation of No One Left Behind and the Young Person’s Guarantee, alongside the outputs from our recent national stakeholder discussion events and actions will be reviewed to identify improvement measures.

The Scottish Government continues to work closely with local employability partners in each local authority to promote and drive an increase in the reach of our services across all of Scotland.

At a local level, Local Employability Partnerships will deliver a mixed economy of provision bringing together a range of partners including, third sector organisations, ensuring that they continue to have a core role in provision of support based on local demand.

We are committed to reducing the cost of school uniform and supporting families so that every child in Scotland can attend school feeling comfortable, confident, and ready to learn.

The Scottish Government, in partnership with local authorities, has already delivered on our commitment to increase the level of school clothing grant in Scotland. This vital support for families has increased to at least £120 for eligible primary school pupils and £150 for eligible secondary school pupils. As part of action to further reduce the cost of the school day for families, we have committed through the 2023-24 Programme for Government to increase funding to local authorities for school clothing grant in the next financial year.

To further support families, we will introduce national guidance on school uniform. This will support schools to work with families to develop and implement affordable and sustainable uniform and clothing policies that recognise the individual needs, circumstances and identities of all pupils. It is anticipated that the guidance will be published in spring 2024.

These measures are being taken forward as part of our wider action to tackle child poverty and protect people as much as possible during the ongoing cost of living crisis.

SQA’s approach to grading the exams in 2023 was based on its established awarding processes. Using ‘grade boundaries’ – the marks needed to achieve an A, B or C grade in each course – SQA checked that each assessment was set at the right standard or level of difficulty.

During the grade boundary setting process, SQA appointees – experienced course teachers and lecturers who are subject experts in each course – determined the grade boundaries by looking at all the available assessment evidence and course information, including the impact disruption and course modifications had on how young people performed in the assessments. For example, I understand that evidence indicated there had been particular challenges seen across the cohort around developing listening skills in modern languages. In recognition of this, adjustments were made to grade boundaries.

This process ensured fairness for this year’s students while maintaining national standards. Adjustments to grade boundaries were smaller this year than in 2022, reflecting the continuing recovery in skills, knowledge and understanding on the part of students.

I have met with all the trade unions representing staff at both the SQA and Education Scotland. Most recently, I met with SQA unions on 13 September, and with Education Scotland unions on 14 September. In addition, my officials are in regular contact with staff and unions at both bodies on matters related to reform.

The Scottish Government, in partnership with local authorities, has been pioneering the transition to net zero in schools through the £2bn Learning Estate Investment Programme (LEIP). The LEIP targets the reduction in operational energy - e.g. heat, light, power, catering and ventilation - in new and refurbished projects.

LEIP funding is predicated on the achievement of outcomes, including measuring the amount of energy consumed in comparison with a set target level. To better understand this issue, a comparison was carried out between schools constructed or refurbished to Building Regulation standards and the enhanced specification required to meet the LEIP level. This included, for example, improved insulation, higher levels of airtightness and controlled ventilation with heat recovery. While the cost of these measures varies depending on the individual project, an assessment indicated that costs were likely to be approximately 5-8% higher. While the target energy level is only mandatory with LEIP projects, local authorities have been adopting this approach in other projects across their estates, as well as looking at other measures that could be adopted such as the use of solar photovoltaics, heat pumps or wind turbines.

As the LEIP continues, further measures are planned to support the transition to net zero. These include using zero direct emissions heating systems, encouraging the use of electric vehicles by providing charging infrastructure and introducing a new target for embodied carbon. The cost of achieving these outcomes will vary with individual projects, however, an assessment has indicated a range of 6-7% extra might be required. Many of these initiatives are already being included in projects within the current phases of the LEIP and in local authority investment in their learning estate.

The dates of the announcement and establishment of the working groups that are currently active in the Education and Skills portfolio are as follows:

I have committed to updating the Scottish Parliament on Phase 3 of the Learning Estate Investment Programme by the end of October.