Curriculum to Incentivise Schools To Include Employment Skills

The National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) study recommends that the government should “incentivise and support” schools to develop key employment skills—such as communication, organisation, and problem-solving—through the ongoing curriculum review. Addressing cognitive and behavioural skills gaps early can improve students’ future job prospects and help tackle labour market shortages.

The report suggests embedding these skills into curriculum standards and possibly adopting a single framework for tracking students’ progress. Research indicates that by 2035, up to seven million workers may lack the necessary employment skills, further exacerbating the UK’s skills gap.

A “cradle to grave” approach is needed to foster a mix of cognitive, behavioural, and technical skills from early childhood onward. Additionally, government support for extra-curricular activities could help disadvantaged students develop these skills. The report also calls for evaluations of school improvement programs to ensure effective use of funding.