Pupils 'left out in the cold by lack of workplace skills'

 
13 August 2013

Businesses today accused the Government of “fixating on” exam results instead of teaching teenagers how to survive in the workplace.

The British Chambers of Commerce said too many school and university leavers do not have the right work ethic, skills or experience to get a job.

The organisation called for an overhaul of what is taught in schools. It also warned that employers struggle to recruit apprentices because students with good A-level results are encouraged to go to university instead.

A spokesman for the BCC said: “As usual, pupils and teachers have worked hard this year preparing for exams, and we wish them the best of luck with their results this week. Unfortunately this hard work is often undermined because the other fundamental building blocks are not in place to prepare those students for their working lives.”

John Longworth, director general of the British Chambers of Commerce, said: “The Government must stop fixating on exam results alone, and ensure that soft workplace skills are taught in our schools, or young people will continue to be left out in the cold.”

He added: “Businesses I speak to up and down the country want to work with young people and are happy to train and employ them. But they are often disheartened if not downright frustrated to find school leavers and graduates do not have the minimum skills they need to join the workforce — poor literacy and numeracy, and behaviour and attitudes that don’t meet business expectations.”

He called for more careers education in schools, more work experience placements and employer visits, and for students to have basic commercial skills when they leave school.

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