Memorandum submitted by the British Chambers
of Commerce (BCC)
1. The British Chambers of Commerce welcomes
the opportunity to submit evidence to the Children, Schools and
Families Committee inquiry: The National Curriculum. The British
Chambers of Commerce is the national voice of local businesses,
acting on behalf of a network of Accredited Chambers of Commerce
across the UK.
2. Representing over 100,000 businesses
and 5 million employees, Chambers of Commerce are the Ultimate
Business Network. Lying at the heart of their local community,
Chambers serve all businesses with a passion no-one else can match.
3. The BCC welcomes the proposals to get
businesses more involved in the curriculum and allowing pupils
to experience the workplace, but is concerned about whether the
national curriculum prepares young people for work. Over 55% of
businesses find it more difficult to recruit skilled staff than
they did five years ago.[6]
4. The National Curriculum at present does
not provide school leavers with the generic employability skills
that businesses are looking for including right attitude, willingness
to learn, communication skills and confidence. These skills should
be learnt through a good education and it is then for the employer
to build upon these to provide the employee with the specific
skills they need for their job.
5. As well as the general attributes sighted
above it is important that school leavers should have mastered
the basic skills in English, Maths and IT and BCC believes it
desirable that they have an understanding of business and enterprise.
We welcome the drive to boost basic skills but feedback from employers
indicate some school leavers are still not equipped with these
essential competences.
6. In addition, all school leavers need
education and training rather than education or training and that
this is not currently reflected in the curriculum. The BCC was
disappointed that the vocational and academic routes were not
merged into one overarching diploma and believes that this policy
would lead to vocational qualifications being held in higher esteem.
7. We broadly welcome the proposals for
businesses to be involved in the national curriculum of the new
diplomas but have some reservations. Small businesses will need
to get practical support to allow them to take on work experience
students and the capacity and regulatory issues must be resolved.
However, involving businesses in the curriculum and the commitment
to increasing opportunities for pupils to learn at work are welcomed.
March 2008
6 This figure is taken from our March 2007 report "UK
Skills: Making the Grade". Back
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