Bosses Demand better Basic Skills

24 August 2005

UK bosses called for the Government to focus on English and Maths standards like a laser beam, ahead of tomorrow's expected GCSE results. The Institute of Directors (IoD) said its members were crying out for an improvement in basic skills amongst job applicants.

Richard Wilson, Head of Business Policy at the IoD, said:

"The starting point for employers recruiting staff is surely to have access to candidates with basic literacy and numeracy skills. We are not there yet.

If individuals lack these skills, workplace training and development or progression into further and higher education becomes much more difficult."

The IoD said that the recently published National Test results for 11 year olds show that 21% did not reach the standard expected of them in English and 25% did not reach the standard expected of them in mathematics. Only 44% of 15 year old pupils in schools achieved grades A*-C in English and mathematics in 2003/04.

Richard Wilson, said:

"The Government really needs to take three steps. Firstly, ensure that pupils can only achieve good grades in English and mathematics GCSE if they show a mastery of functional literacy and numeracy. Secondly, recruit more maths teachers - the Smith Report in 2003 noted that English schools were short of over 3,000. Thirdly, ensure that students studying for vocational courses also have a mastery of literacy and numeracy."