A report by Ipsos MORI, commissioned by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA)
This study aimed to discover what kind of work-related learning (WRL) pupils were receiving in English schools; how they perceived different types of WRL; which pupil categories learners thought should be taught about jobs and working life (e.g. all pupils, those leaving school at 16); and what young people wanted to be doing aged 19. The cohort was 2,253 young people in years 7 and 11, drawn from 96 of the 342 middle and secondary schools in England which were invited to participate.
The survey compared results to 2007 data and found no significant differences in levels of: those who had gone on a work placement (83% in 2009 and 88% in 2007); those who had an opportunity to discuss their career aspirations (76% in 2009 and 77% in 2007); and those who had visited a workplace (58% in 2009 and 59% in 2007). However, there had been a 9% decline in the number of students who had written a CV, learnt interview techniques or spoken with a visitor from business.
Overall the research study found that pupils felt it was important for them to go on work placements (with 91% commenting positively on their usefulness). Just below 80% of pupils feel that all young people should be taught about jobs and working life at school and more than half of pupils wanted to be at university when they were 19. However, although a large majority of Year 11 pupils thought it would be very useful to learn how to write CVs, practise interview techniques and how to look for jobs, much smaller proportions reported they had had access to these activities.