Today (Wednesday 30 July 2025) the Scottish Funding Council has published new statistics, Report on Widening Access 2023-24, which details college and university data for care-experienced students and entrants to college and university by background.
 
The statistics show a high proportion of entrants to full time Higher Education and full time Further Education at college were care-experienced in 2023-24 at 4.7% and 10.4% respectively, the highest on record.  
 
Claire Vekic, Policy Officer at Colleges Scotland, said: "Colleges are anchor institutions in their local communities that help unlock the significant human capital that exists in our society, regardless of background. The report published today shows the important role that colleges have at the forefront of providing opportunities for care-experienced students. Colleges have been key in delivering The Promise in Scotland, the policy which helps young people realise their full potential."
 
In 2023-24, 94.6% of those who successfully qualified from college courses who were care experienced studying full-time HE courses were in work or further study 3-6 months after qualifying. 91.7% of care experienced people who qualified from full-time FE study were in work or further study 3-6 months after qualifying. Both of these statistics have increased from the previous year. 
 
Claire said: "College education, training and qualifications clearly make a positive difference to people from all backgrounds and ages, including care experienced students, and the Report shows the positive impact of coming to college for thousands of people each year. 
 
"Colleges Scotland looks forward to the additional data on articulation from college to university for 2023-24, which will be available from the Scottish Funding Council in the coming months."