Memorandum submitted by the Federation
of Small Businesses (FSB)
1.0 INTRODUCTION
TO THE
FSB
1.1 The FSB is the UK's leading non-party
political lobbying group of UK small businesses, existing to promote
and protect the interests of all who own and manage their own
business. With over 210,000 members, the FSB is also the largest
organisation representing small and medium sized businesses in
the UK.
2.0 KEY ISSUES
2.1 The FSB is supportive of a national
curriculum; however the focus of the curriculum does need to change
if the education sector is to provide young people with fundamental
employability and life skills.
2.2 The FSB advocates an education system
where the twin pillars of enterprise and employability are engrained
within the curriculum. We also feel that providing young people
with options at the earliest stage of their development will help
them choose the most suitable career path.
2.3 The average person will spend the majority
of their life within the workplace so it is critical for the education
system to provide them with all the necessary tools to fulfil
their employment potential. Employability skills should be taught
to school students from the start of Key Stage 3.
3.0 WHAT DO
SMALL BUSINESSES
WANT FROM
SCHOOL LEAVERS?
3.1 An effective national curriculum should
provide the literacy, numeracy and softer skills required by employers.
This will enable employees to create a positive impression on
their first day of employment.
Small businesses do not have the time or the
resources to pay for basic skills training, caused by failures
within the education system. Small businesses gain by training
employees in the skills needed to perform effectively within their
job.
4.0 RECOMMENDATIONS
4.1 Principle and Content of the National
Curriculum and Its Fitness-for-Purpose
4.1.1 The FSB is supportive of a national
curriculum which:
— features a system of streaming at
an even younger age than 14;
— sets out broad principles rather
than detailed aims and objectives;
— develops the key skills of literacy,
numeracy, team-working and team-leading as they are essential
to business; and
— focuses on providing young people
with fundamental employability and life skills.
4.1.2 Teachers should be given more independence,
within a broad structure, to direct their teaching methods in
ways which will make pupils more employable and enable them to
make a smooth transition into the workplace.
4.2 Management of the National Curriculum
The FSB opposes a 50% target figure of young
people entering higher education. We feel that a target driven
education system leads to higher drop out rates. The completion
levels of qualifications are of greater importance.
4.2.1 Vocational-based Diplomas, available
from September 2008, will run parallel to the traditional academic
route. We welcome this new system on the understanding that young
people will be given the option at 14 whether to go down the vocational
path, academic route or a combination of both.
4.2.2 The FSB supports the concept of personalised
learning. We understand the rationale to be:
"to raise standards by focusing teaching
and learning on the aptitudes and interests of pupils".[1]
However, we would like to see a further reference
to teachers and schools playing a part in focusing young people's
minds towards employment.
4.2.3 The FSB feel that the role of the
new style Qualifications and Curriculum Authority should be to
dedicate a percentage of the curriculum on enterprise and employability.
Young people ought to be given practical lessons on the essential
skills that employers are looking for in order to succeed when
they reach working age.
4.2.4 Teachers play a key role in a young
person's development so they must have a role in the development
of the National Curriculum. To ensure full understanding of employers'
needs, teachers should spend periods of the year within the workplace
to get first hand experience of the necessary skills required
by businesses of all sizes.
March 2008
1 DCSF website: About Personalised learning: http://www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/personalisedlearning/about/ Back
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