Alan Milburn calls for mandatory work experience for 14 to 16-year-olds
Former Labour minister Alan Milburn says work experience should be mandatory for 14 to 16-year-olds and primary pupils should learn about work, ahead of his autumn review.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Former Labour minister Alan Milburn has called for work experience to be mandatory for 14 to 16-year-olds and for children as young as four to learn about the world of work. He made the proposal ahead of the publication of his review into why nearly one million young people are not in education, employment or training.
Mr Milburn, who has spent the past year speaking to hundreds of young people, teachers, experts and charities, said in an interview that work experience is part of the answer. He said primary school should be about opening eyes and giving children a sense of what is possible. Secondary school, he added, should give pupils a real taste of what work is like.
He said work experience needs to be mandatory because about four in ten young people aged 14 to 16 are not getting any at all. It should become much more of a statutory duty on schools, he argued. He has already said primary schools should identify children who may struggle with education or employment later in life, and now says primary-aged children should learn more about the world of work.
Parents in Kirklees gave mixed views. One said there was too much pressure for little children to grow up too quick and that kids should be given a chance to be kids. Another said early learning about work would give children values and help them decide what to do afterwards. A third said life skills are important however early they start, while others said the idea was too young and that kids should be kids, not adults.
Head teacher unions welcomed the proposals but said they must be properly resourced and delivered fairly for all pupils. One challenge is that urban areas may find it easier because they have greater infrastructure, a breadth of opportunities and a range of speakers. Rural areas may find it more challenging.
Mr Milburn's final review is expected this autumn. Asked whether he felt pressure to get it right, he said yes, because it is a big thing and he cares about it. He said he is worried about the next generation, as are parents and grandparents worried about the future for their children and grandchildren.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, grouped by how many channels reported each one. Select a dot to see the source excerpt.
| Claim |  |
|---|---|
| Only on one channel | |
| About four in ten young people aged 14 to 16 are not getting any work experience. | |
| Alan Milburn advocated for mandatory work experience. | |
| Head teacher unions welcomed the proposals while calling for adequate resourcing and fair delivery for all pupils. | |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
BBC ONE West led on an exclusive interview with Alan Milburn, setting out his case for mandatory work experience and earlier careers learning. The report balanced the policy proposal with vox pops from parents in Kirklees and concerns from head teacher unions about resources and fair delivery. It framed the plan as a response to nearly one million young people not in education, employment or training, with the final review due in autumn.
- “I think work experience needs to be mandatory.”
- “I think it's got to become much more of a statutory duty on schools.”
- “There's too much trying to get little kids to grow up too quick.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.