Authors: Olly Newton
Our world is changing rapidly and we are witnessing widening skills gaps in the economy, the onset of a digital revolution, alongside the challenges of adapting to Brexit and Covid-19. To respond, we need to support our young people towards the skills and knowledge they will need to reach their full potential. However, thousands of young people are being let down by the education system because they do not receive appropriate advice, guidance and high quality training to prepare for a world of work. This needs to change, and this report argues for a coherent, unified and holistic system to better support our young people to success.
Recommendations
We need to build on what already exists and to collectively plan for this change over decades rather than over the lifetime of a single parliament or ministerial post:
- Create a broad, balanced and relevant 14-19 curriculum
- Make the curriculum relevant by putting it into context
- Remove the cliff edge at 16, focusing on stage rather than age
- Focus apprenticeships on young people joining the labour market
- Integrate employer engagement throughout
- Give teachers more support and greater freedom
- Support more collaboration between institutions
- Create an accountability system focused on outcomes