Programs

The purpose of this study was to describe the recent extent and distribution of work experience of young people in Scotland, using data from the Scottish Young People's Survey (SYPS). SYPS, based on a 10 percent sample of all schools in Scotland, is conducted biennially in spring by mail and achieves a response rate of around 80 percent. In the 1987 survey, 20 percent of the respondents reperted that they had had a work experience placement. Analysis of earlier surveys indicated that this was the highest percentage over the past decade. The range across local education authorities for work experience was from 12 percent to 32 percent. More girls, 22 percent, went on work experlence than boys, 18 percent. The 5 Technical and Vocational Education Initiative (TVEI) pilot pro)ects had 70 percent of their students in work experience placement. The extent of part-time work during the school term was 4