Born in 1946 and brought up in Cupar, Fife, I was educated at the local school - 
The most recent data reveals 95.5% of youngsters are going into further or higher education, employment or training three months after leaving school.
The total across Scotland has risen from 93.3% last year to 93.7% this year – showing that even more young people are finding fulfilling opportunities after leaving school.
In Aberdeenshire, the percentage of people going on to positive destinations has gone from 94.7% last year to 95.5% this year – and increased from 94.1% since 2011/12.
Of those in positive destinations, 41% are in Higher Education at University and 29% in Further Education are at college, while 21% are in employment and 1% are in training.
Commenting on the latest stats, Banffshire and Buchan Coast MSP Stewart Stevenson said:
“The Scottish Government continues to make education its priority this parliament – and these figures reflect just how important SNP action on education is for our young people.
“Being able to go on to a positive destination after leaving school – whether that is college, university, work or training – is a great boost for young people across Aberdeenshire, improving their self-confidence and setting them up to make positive contributions to our communities as adults.
“That more young people across Aberdeenshire are going on to positive destinations this year than previously – up from 94.1% to 95.5% over the last six years – is fantastic news for our local community.
“Our young people need fulfilling work, study or training after leaving school to help ensure they don’t get left behind – and these positive figures for Aberdeenshire and across Scotland show that they are benefitting from exactly that.”
“Being able to go on to a positive destination after leaving school – whether that is college, university, work or training – is a great boost for young people across Aberdeenshire, improving their self-confidence and setting them up to make positive contributions to our communities as adults.
“That more young people across Aberdeenshire are going on to positive destinations this year than previously – up from 94.1% to 95.5% over the last six years – is fantastic news for our local community.
“Our young people need fulfilling work, study or training after leaving school to help ensure they don’t get left behind – and these positive figures for Aberdeenshire and across Scotland show that they are benefitting from exactly that.”
