National Skills Strategy Fourteen to Nineteen Education

A recurrent theme of the Government's education policy has been the need to improve skill levels in the workforce. In this light this report looks at the Government's proposals for the provision of education between the ages of 14-19 and the work of the Working Group on 14-19 Reform. One of the clear conclusions is that the whole education experience is significant for a child, not just one particular part and that the labour market really requires young people who are literate, numerate and work prepared. On the subject of the proposed unified diploma to replace GCSEs and A levels, the Committee understands why the Government thought its introduction would be a risk but it nevertheless urges to the subject to be kept under review. However the burden for change does not solely rest with the government, employers must also engage with the process to help devise a system that meets their needs.