Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to encourage a greater emphasis on developing skills for work in schools and colleges.

The department wants all young people to leave school or college with the knowledge, skills, and behaviours to progress onto higher education or skilled work.

High-quality careers information, advice and guidance is key to helping all young people to make informed decisions about their future, understand the skills they need to succeed and the pathways to take them there. The department funds the Careers and Enterprise Company to support schools and colleges to deliver high-quality careers programmes and increase young people’s exposure to the world of work. 92% (4,760) of schools and colleges in England are part of a Careers Hub, which increase young peoples’ encounters with employers, access to workplace experiences and understanding of the skills, behaviours, and qualifications they need to develop for a range of jobs and sectors. Through the National Careers Service website and live chat function, young people aged 13 to 18 can access free, up to date, impartial information, advice and guidance on careers and skills in England.

Colleges deliver a wide range of vocational and technical training needed to prepare students for skilled work in a wide variety of occupations, and for higher technical study. Colleges are delivering:

• Apprenticeships training which is based on employer led standards that will ensure that apprenticeships are equipped with the skills that employers need.
• New T levels where 250 employers have been involved in designing the content, ensuring that qualifications meet industry need and preparing students for the world of work.
• New Skills Bootcamps which offer free, flexible courses of up to 16 weeks and give people the opportunity to build up sector-specific skills and fast-track to an interview with an employer.
• New Free Courses for Jobs offer that gives eligible adults the chance to access a high value Level 3 qualification for free, which can support them to gain higher wages or a better job. 400 courses are available and have been carefully chosen as they offer good wage outcomes and address the skills needed in the economy.