Pupils must take maths and science

Aug 19 2008 by Liz Smith for The Journal

THIS week many young people will walk out of the school gates for the last time after collecting their exam results, ready and eager to head off into the workplace.

They will be keen to learn new skills, want a satisfying career, and will typically be more IT-savvy than their bosses.

But too few will have achieved the required level of literacy and numeracy. More than half of 16-year-olds fail to get a C grade in both English and maths GCSE. For them, long term success in the labour market is much more challenging. And around 200,000 will become “Neet” – not in education, employment or training.

Employers have a right to expect school and college leavers to be literate and numerate and have some knowledge of the world of work. We have, therefore, fully supported more specialist numeracy teachers for primary schools and the Government’s new functional skills modules to GCSEs to be introduced in 2010.

Business must play its part, too, by providing worthwhile work experience and by supporting the new applied diploma subjects such as engineering, hospitality and construction. There has been strong employer input into their design and employers are committed to making them a success. We now need specialist teachers to deliver the diplomas and excellent careers advisers to help young people choose the right option.

Business advocates a twin track approach with GCSE and A-levels running alongside the sector-specific diplomas. Academic GCSEs and A-levels are already valued and understood by businesses and provide the academic rigour that business also values.

Last week’s A-level results were encouraging with more young people succeeding in subjects business really needs such as science and maths.

And business would like to see these numbers continue to rise substantially for Britain to thrive in the global economy. For example, the numbers taking physics A-level are still considerably smaller than they were 10 years ago, even though more people take A-levels now. CBI will continue to push for changes that address this problem.

The message from business is clear. Government should focus on the essentials – improving GCSE and A-levels, ensuring students develop vital literacy, numeracy and employability skills, making the sector-related diplomas a success, and encouraging more pupils to study science subjects.

Liz Smith is assistant regional director, CBI North East