Such schools are identified in the tables. Some education authority schools are designated to receive pupils from S1-S4 schools to continue their education in S5 and S6. Such schools may thereby gain a significant proportion of pupils beyond the statutory leaving age who are interested in further and higher education and have good prospects of success in this. The schools whose figures could be affected by their receiving pupils in this way to continue their education are identified in the tables. In a few cases, this may be a temporary situation that has arisen for one year or more because of the closure of a neighbouring school.
Some schools have special units which make provision for pupils who have special educational needs.
The destinations of these pupils are included in the figures in the tables and this might have a significant effect on the overall pattern of leaver destinations. However, the overall effect will be heavily dependent on the number of pupils in the special unit and the nature of their needs. There is likely to be some fluctuation in the figures from year to year. A particular figure, for example the number of leavers proceeding to higher education, might derive mainly from the ability of pupils in a particular year group. Similarly, there may be short-term opportunities for employment in some localities.