The cost of low standards at school is high, as are the demands on companies to help.
POOR EDUCATION COSTS
Lack of employability qualities among school and college leavers may be costing Britain £8 billion a year, consisting of social security and other costs of youth unemployment, costs to employers of shortfalls in basic literacy and skills, and lost productivity. The findings come in a report by Industry in Education, a trust founded in 1993 by leading industrialists to encourage deeper involvement by business in education as investors, partners and customers. Published at the end of January with support from ADT Group and Midland Bank, Towards Employability sets out the gap between young people’s abilities and employers’ recruitment needs.
Among suggestions for improvement are reform of qualifications to teach basic skills, attention to early literacy and extending the school day. Also suggested are less emphasis on sport and more on arts and music which encourage flexibility, creativity and openness. Contact Industry in Education on 0181 875 9799
BUSINESS IN SCHOOL
Six in ten primary schools and over nine in ten secondary schools have established business links, with the most common connections being talks in school and business visits. The findings were published in the fourth survey of School-Business Links in England (ISBN 0 11 270924 9, £3.50) covering the 1994/95 year, by the Department for Education and Employment on March 22. Among the findings were:
98% of pupils in their final year of compulsory school have work experience placements;
one third of secondary schools have provided one or more services to a local business;
58% of primary and 82% of secondary schools have one or more representative on their governing body from business.
However compared to earlier years, there are reductions in the numbers of teachers placed in business and in donations of equipment and cash. The survey is based on a nationally representative sample of 481 secondary and 748 primary schools. Contact DFEE Analytical Services on 0132 539 2782
FUNDAMENTAL READING PROJECT
Tate & Lyle is to sponsor a three year pilot project to bring America’s largest children’s literacy programme to the UK. Reading is Fundamental is joining the National Literacy Trust to share experience of its network of 5,700 volunteer projects which help three million children in the US. The first schemes will start in the summer, providing books to young people and involving parents, friends and local communities. Contact Neil McClelland, NLT, on 0171 828 2435
CAMPAIGN FOR GOVERNORS
The schools minister, Robin Squire MP, launched a national campaign for school governors on March 26, warning that about one third of governors (100,000) are reaching the end of their four year term and only 40,000 are expected to restand. He particularly called for governors with business experience and said that inner city and metropolitan areas have greatest need. The campaign will include adverts and leaflet distribution in Woolworths, WH Smith, Barclays and other companies. Contact DfEE Enquiries on 0171 925 5555
STUDY CENTRE BID
The Prince’s Trust has applied for £13 million in lottery funding to establish a network of 160 study support centres offering out-of-hours help to disadvantaged children to boost their performance at school. Around 80,000 pupils would benefit from the proposal which requires matching finance from private sources. The bid is supported by an Advisory Board, including Lord Sheppard of GrandMet, Sir Iain Vallance of BT, Sir Ron Dearing and Howard Davies. Contact Diana McMahon, Prince’s Trust, 0171 543 1234
CTC TRUSTS SPONSORSHIP
The City Technology Colleges Trust has published a guide to sponsorship opportunities in schools, citing examples of successful projects. Sponsorship in Practice says that education sponsorship is an estimated £150 million pa, but is less well accepted than sports or arts. Contact Christine Prentice, CTC Trust, on 0171 839 9339
PUBLIC SCHOOLING, PRIVATE BUILDING
Westminster Council in London is seeking a private sector partner to build and then run a replacement school in Pimlico on a 25 year contract. The 1,450 place school costs the education authority around £370,000 a year to maintain but requires £7.4 million in renovation. Under the government’s Private Finance Initiative, the contractor could raise additional funds by charging for the use of school facilities out of hours. Construction costs are expected to be about £18 million. Contact Emma Slade, Westminster Council Public Relations , on 0171 798 2259
UBI ON THE MOVE
UBI has announced a new national staffing structure, as it moves into a new HQ in Oxfordshire. John Brodie is director of UBI and its parent body, the CBI Education Foundation. Supporting him are three national directors, Janice Anderson, responsible for the teacher placement service, Peter Skinner, national development, and Jeremy Tremaine, training programmes. Contact Jan Hussey, UBI, on 0186 537 4389 >
Comment
None of the new stories cited above is remarkable in itself. Together they paint the picture of the massive input companies are now making to help schools. Not just helping today’s schools, but also expanding innovative schemes, like out-of-school assistance to those who most need it.
And if anyone doubts why, the Industry in Education figures clearly demonstrate that it is not just good, but good for business too, if the costs of poor schooling can be cut.
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