More bright Scottish 17-year-olds to be fast-tracked to university

More bright 17-year-old pupils are to be fast-tracked to university rather than staying in school for another year, under a Scottish Government blueprint that prompted expert warnings drop-out rates will increase.

John Swinney, the SNP’s Education Minister, published a blueprint recommending the “highest achievers” in S5 start their university degrees rather than get more Highers and Advanced Highers at school.

In addition, the cleverest S6 children are to go straight to the second year of a degree and Scotland’s ancient universities will be forced to accept far more youngsters transferring from college courses.