Joint dialogue: How are schools developing real employability skills?

This report is a collaborative work by Education and Employers, the Edge Foundation and National Education Union. It draws upon 21 pieces of existing literature, two focus groups with employers and the findings from a survey of 626 secondary school teaching staff based in England to explore how schools are providing young people with the opportunity to develop and exercise vital employability skills. Over 90 per cent of teachers believe that the top five skills and two of the four competencies cited by employers are being developed in school. The research highlights that the narrower curriculum and increased content and exam-focus of GCSEs and A levels, are standing in the way of young people developing the skills necessary for working life. Thirty-two per cent of teachers reported that changes to the Key Stage 3 curriculum have been detrimental to developing the skills and attitudes needed for work.