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CBI right to raise concerns about the standards of English and maths

10 May 2011 03:12 PM

The CBI yesterday published their annual Education & Skills survey 2011 which shows that many employers are concerned with the basic skills levels of school and college leavers.

Responding to the survey, a DfE spokesman said:

The CBI is absolutely right to raise concerns about the standards of English and maths of so many of our young people.

45 per cent of young people did not get a C or better in GCSE English and maths at 16. And just four per cent of those who fail then go on to achieve this from 16 to 19.

Yet it is good qualifications in these key subjects that employers demand before all others – that’s why we are prioritising them.

The recruitment of specialist maths teachers, introducing a phonics-based reading test for six-year-olds and restoring the rigour of GCSE and A level exams are all part of the overall package to raise participation across the board.