§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of(a) female and (b) male children leave school at 16 in Scotland, broken down into local authority areas; and if he will make a statement. [3658]
§ Mr. WilsonPercentages for 1995–96, the latest year for which information is available are as follows. Pupils are regarded as having left on achieving the school leaving age in 1995–96 if they
185Wreached age 16 between I March and 30 September 1996 and left school on 31 May 1996;reached age 16 between 1 October 1995 and the end of February 1996 and left school at the end of the winter term in 1995–96.These arrangements therefore allow some pupils to leave school while they are still 15 years old.