Oli de Botton

How primary careers education is challenging stereotypes A pilot scheme is proving it’s possible to change children’s ideas about the career options that are open to them, writes the head of the Careers and Enterprise Company

Really pleased to write about emerging findings from our primary careers education pilot.

In short, if you inspire children about what's possible early on, you can mitigate stereotypes based on gender and class.

www.tes.com/magazine/ana...

What odds can I get for spurs to get relegated and win the europa league? Next season would be interesting at least …

Nightmare. Bin collection day is a Wednesday and our non-recycling is on a two week cycle. Everything is already full. Not sure I am going to make it.

Winter wonderland…. Magical or horrific example of late capitalism ?

I mean Day of the Jackal is epic. A vulnerable yet ruthless assassin. A tech billionaire. A brilliant MI5 agent trying to beat the system. It’s got everything. Total fanboy.

Shared in a DM

Student career readiness in 2023/24 During the 2023/24 academic year, nearly ¼ of a million students from over 1,100 secondary education institutions completed the Future Skills Questionnaire (FSQ).

Full report here (including data tables and a nice finding that shows awareness of Apprenticeships almost on a par with A-level by Year 11):

www.careersandenterprise.co.uk/3538

On skills: By 16, students rate themselves lower on speaking, listening, leadership and teamwork than they did when they started secondary school. Lots possibly going on here but the focus on speaking skills - weaved through the curriculum could help 5/6

On career confidence: In general young people feel more career ready as they approach transition points, such as Year 11. However there is a confidence gap for those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds – and girls. The highest quality careers education can help mitigate this. 4/6

On future ambitions: YP are really interested in growth sectors - construction, digital and health (in part reflecting some excellent school outreach from those industries). More to do in other critical sectors. Our hope is this data can inform the student 'demand' side of training and courses. 3/6

The survey tool includes questions about aspirations, confidence, different qualification and pathways (apprenticeships, A-levels etc), skills and readiness for work. All together making a composite 'career readiness' score. Key findings include: 2/6

Going to try sharing some research here from @careerent.bsky.social (is this the right place?!) The Future Skills Questionnaire draws on responses from nearly 1/4 million school aged yp (234k) - probably the largest study of its kind. Interesting insights about how ready they feel for work 1/6

Sir Keir Starmer says Britain ‘isn’t working’ as he announces jobs push The government plans include overhauling job centres, but reforms to benefits are delayed until next year.

For all the tough talk headlines, this Youth Guarantee actually has a strong and welcome emphasis on support. It also finally opens up a proper focus on the employer end. The benefits system is a smaller part of the story than the world of work - and skills - itself.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Well that’s blown up my ‘let’s not put on the heating yet’ strategy.

Brilliant to see.

Writing is thinking.

Is the international weekend something you can block on Bluesky?

Kaos on Netflix. Total genius. Surely. Doing for Greek myths what Baz Luhrmann did for Romeo and Juliet.

Summer reading: The Glutton by A.K Blakemore. Gripping, beautiful, disturbing. Not sure what to make of it!

A load of cows. Unexpectedly terrifying. Probably best to stay in doors from now on…

Back our lost children to rebuild Britain A dynamic economy depends on giving the nation’s 16 to 24-year-olds the skills and confidence to enter the workplace

Thanks @thetimes.com for highlighting our work and the role high quality careers education plays in preventing young people falling out of the system

Back our lost children to rebuild Britain

www.thetimes.com/article/cbb2...

Good luck for BTec, Alevel,Tlevel results today! If you got what you wanted. Congrats ! If you didn’t speak to your college and school careers teams. There are lots of options out there.