SECONDARY school pupils should have the chance to earn a certificate of achievement that recognises more than exam results, Scottish Labour will say today.

The party's opportunity spokesman Iain Gray is set to announce plans to reform the senior years of high school, saying the system is geared too much towards those intent on following the traditional path to university.

He will announce plans for a certificate that will recognise wider experiences and vocational qualifications alongside exam results. A similar scheme is running in Wales with the certificate recognised by some universities.

On the first day of the party's conference in Perth, former leader Mr Gray is expected to tell delegates: "Scottish Labour want to see reforms of the senior years of secondary school to deliver a comprehensive system for our young people that blends together school, college, university and the workplace. This should create, allow and value different routes to achievement.

“As with the best reforms, many schools and their partners are already developing examples of this, but it is time to make it the norm... Just as [former Scottish secretary] Willie Ross took a divided and divisive school system and reformed it into something which served all children not just thirty per cent of them, the time has come to complete that work for older students, break down the barriers between school, college, university, and the workplace. It’s time for an education system which works for all."

The policy announcement comes after the issue of student finance dominated First Minister's Questions, with Nicola Sturgeon coming under attack over the SNP's 2007 pledge to cancel student debt, which was never carried out, and the support available to the poorest students.

Kezia Dugdale said the total value of student debt had risen to £2.7 billion, making it the Scottish Government's biggest asset. The Scottish Labour leader said: "Under the SNP government, the average student bursary or grant has been cut by almost 30 per cent and it's the poorest students who are suffering."

Ms Sturgeon insisted that Scotland had the best student support package in the UK, with average debt for Scottish students well below typical levels in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and cited supportive comments from the National Union of Students (NUS) Scotland.

Following the debate, Vonnie Sandlan, president of NUS Scotland, said that there was a need for increased grants, particularly for the poorest students.

Ms Sandlan said: "It’s right that we’ve maintained free education in Scotland, but that can’t just be about the price tag. We need to look at the wider cost of studying, and how students are supported in education. Without access to the necessary financial support, students are forced to turn to commercial debt, take on unreasonable amounts of part-time work, or even drop out of education altogether. That’s simply a huge waste of some of our brightest potential, and a huge waste for our country.

"As we look ahead to the Scottish budget then elections next year, we want to see all Scottish parties take a strong stand on tackling student debt and poverty. NUS Scotland will be campaigning for improved support for all students, with an unambiguous focus on increasing the amount of grants going to the poorest students particularly. At the same time, we can’t forget that students in further education still struggle by on a discretionary bursary in desperate need of reform and investment."