Mcr Pathways Impact Report 2024/25
Argyll and Bute Council · 4 June 2026
Back to Community Services Committee — 4 June 2026 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE EDUCATION 4 JUNE 2026 MCR PATHWAYS IMPACT REPORT 2024/25 1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1.1 This report provides members with an overview of the outcomes achieved through the partnership between Argyll and Bute Council and MCR Pathways, supporting care-experienced and vulnerable young people through one-to-one mentoring and group work in secondary schools. 1.2 The report recommends that the Community Services Committee: • Note the continued positive impact the MCR Pathways Programme has had on young people since the programme began in 2023. • Note the number of Argyll and Bute Council staff contributing their time as volunteer mentors and commend this work. • Endorse the positive contribution which the MCR Pathways Programme has on Argyll and Bute Council’s work to ‘Keep the Promise’ for Scotland’s Care Experienced Children and Young People.
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE EDUCATION SERVICE 4 JUNE 2025 MCR PATHWAYS IMPACT REPORT 2024/25 2.0 INTRODUCTION 2.1 MCR Pathways is a national mentoring programme founded in 2007 with the aim to improve the attendance, engagement, inclusion, attainment and achievement of disadvantaged and vulnerable young people. 2.2 The MCR Pathway Programme was introduced by the Education Service in 2023 and matches care experienced and other disadvantaged and vulnerable young people with adult mentors who volunteer one hour per week to meet with their matched mentee within the school environment 2.3 Young people are supported to unlock their potential, realise their skills and progress to a positive destination, no matter their circumstances. 2.4 The MCR Pathways programme contributes significantly to Argyll and Bute Council’s Corporate Parenting responsibility and its commitment to ‘Keeping the Promise’ to Scotland’s Care Experienced Children and Young People. 3.0 RECOMMENDATIONS The Community Services Committee is asked to: 3.1 Note the continued positive impact the MCR Pathways Programme has had on young people since the programme began in 2023 and the importance of the programme in taking forward our Corporate Parenting responsibilities for Care Experienced Children and Young People. 3.2 Note the number of Argyll and Bute Council staff contributing their time as volunteer mentors and commend this work. 3.3 Endorse the positive contribution which the MCR Pathways Programme has on Argyll and Bute Council’s work to ‘Keep the Promise’ for Scotland’s Care Experienced Children and Young People.
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4.0 DETAIL Reach 4.1 MCR Pathways initially started as a one year pilot in three secondary schools - Dunoon Grammar, Hermitage Academy and Oban High School in 2023 and as of November 2025 the programme has expanded to nine secondary schools across Argyll and Bute with plans being developed to introduce the programme to the tenth of our secondary provisions. The programme is supporting 273 young people with mentoring activity increasing steadily across newly participating schools. 4.3 During academic year 2024/25, 238 young people were supported across four secondary schools in Argyll and Bute. 153 young people were matched with a trusted adult volunteer mentor, with a further 23 engaged in preparation for mentoring. Impact on Young People 4.3 Evidence from young people indicates strong positive outcomes: • 97% reported improved trust and relationships with adults. • 92% reported increased confidence and belief in themselves. • 93% felt clearer about their aspirations. • 92% reported improved goal-setting skills. • 95% reported being supported to move towards their chosen destination post-school. Mentoring was also shown to have a significant positive impact on wellbeing, with 97% of young people stating their mentor encouraged them to be the best version of themselves. Educational Attainment and Destinations 4.4 The report highlights positive attainment and post-school outcomes: • At S5, 57% of care-experienced young people and 83% of young people facing instability achieved Level 5 or above. • Among school leavers, 54% (care-experienced) and 82% (facing instability) achieved Level 5 or above. • 71% of care-experienced and 86% of young people facing instability progressed to an MCR positive destination (college, university, apprenticeship or employment). • Scottish Government positive destinations were achieved by 86% (care-experienced) and 93% (facing instability) young people. Comparative data shows mentored young people outperform national averages for care-experienced learners at Levels 5 and above.
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Volunteers and Partnership Working 4.5 Mentors are recruited from a range of organisations with Argyll and Bute Council staff continuing to play an active role, with 13 employees mentoring, reinforcing the Council’s role as an active corporate parent. The programme also operates in close partnership with Schools, Skills Development Scotland, Developing the Young Workforce, Police Scotland, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, UHI and local employers. 5.0 CONCLUSION 5.1 The impact report for 2024-2025 provides assurance that the MCR Pathways programme is delivering measurable improvements in wellbeing, engagement, attainment and post-school destinations, particularly for care-experienced young people. 5.2 The programme also supports key Council priorities, including closing the attainment gap, promoting wellbeing, and fulfilling corporate parenting responsibilities. 5.3 The MCR Pathways Programme supports Argyll and Bute Council in taking forward its Corporate Parenting Responsibilities and its commitment to ‘Keep the Promise’ to our Care Experienced Children and Young People. 6.0 IMPLICATIONS 6.1 Policy – This relates to the Education Service Strategic Priority 3 – Closing the attainment gap between the most and least disadvantaged children and young people. 6.2 Financial – None 6.3 Legal - None 6.4 HR - None 6.5 Customer Service - None 6.6 Risk – Failure to support young people into positive destinations will impact on the life chances of young people across the Local Authority area and may result in outward migration of young people. A reduction in the number of young people securing positive destinations post-school risks reputational damage to the local authority and detracts from its appeal as a place to live and work. 6.7 Climate Change - None 6.8 Fairer Scotland Duty - None
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6.9 Equalities - protected characteristics – All work relating to the MCR Pathways Programme seeks to address inequality young people’s access to education, employment and training. The programme explicitly targets young people whose protected characteristics constitute barriers to their fulfilling of their potential. 6.10 Consumer Duty - None 6.11 Island Communities - None 6.12 Children’s Rights and Wellbeing – This report links to Article 29 of the UNCRC (Goals of Education) Douglas Hendry - Executive Director with responsibility for Education Councillor Kieron Green - Policy Lead for Education 12 May 2026 For further information contact: Jen Crocket, Head of Education; Wellbeing, Inclusion and Achievement APPENDICES - Appendix 1 – Argyll and Bute Impact Report 2024-2025