Thursday is A-level results day, and many young people are considering what the future has in store for them.
The British Chamber of Commerce has condemned the Government for putting too much focus on exam results rather than teaching young people essential skills for the workplace.
The organisation said that many employers struggle to recruit apprentices because students who achieve good A-level results are encouraged to go to university. Many young people are unsure about the other options available to them as apprenticeships are not as widely promoted in schools.
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.”
