Exam-based education culture is failing our young people and our businesses says leading entrepreneur.
Last month, the Riots, Communities and Victims Panel that were investigating the causes to last year’s urban disturbances concluded that schools should be fined if pupils left with poor literacy skills. Will Davies, co-founder of aspect.co.uk London’s largest property maintenance and refurbishment company, argues that schools are failing our children and that an exam focused education system does not equip them with the basic skills. “Teachers have become fixated on exam results and youngsters are getting results but they are weak in basic, employable skills such as literacy, numeracy, time keeping and dedication,” said Mr Davies – who was an investment banker before creating aspect.co.uk A recent report from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development concluded that Britain has produced a lost generation who are weak in literacy, numeracy and communication skills.
The report’s author Gerwyn Davies said that many employers considered that the education system in Britain was simply not ‘fit for purpose’. “They (employers) argue that our education skills are too geared towards testing and written examinations,” he said. “They believe many school-leavers don’t possess communication skills.” aspect.co.uk announced extensive plans this year to expand their £10 million London based into the regions but were shocked by the lack of applications from young workers. “It is becoming acceptable for the young in Britain to be unemployed and use the economic situation and the massive youth unemployment figures as an excuse,” said Mr Davies. Last month, Will Davies and his business partner Nick Bizley organised their first ‘Unemployment Boot Camp’ at their London headquarters in Earlsfield. “We wanted to get away relying on school qualifications and government sponsored employment schemes and return to the old system of real apprenticeships teaching real skills,” said Mr Davies.
Unemployed young people recruited from jobcentres, technical colleges and council employment schemes attended the event. “The prize for the winning participant was a full-time paid handyman apprenticeship with aspect.co.uk,” said Mr Davies. “We were sure that the youngster who turned up and contributed the most at a boot camp would be the sort of individual aspect.co.uk will benefit from employing.” The participants at the boot camp had to complete a number of physical and mental challenges designed to test literacy, numeracy, spatial awareness, hand eye co-ordinations and endurance, followed by handyman relevant skill tests.
