Poor school careers advice deters future engineers, says IMechE14 July 2014

UK pupils are receiving poor careers advice from teachers who lack understanding of business and industry, according to a new poll by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE).

The survey revealed 42% of the 2,030 people polled thought careers advice/guidance in UK secondary schools was poor, with 26% saying it's adequate. Only 10% believed the advice was good.

The results come as the Institution launches a new Teacher Industrial Partners' Scheme (TIPS), which will see science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) teachers being offered two-week work placements within industry to help them better explain the highly diverse career opportunities to their students.

The scheme was launched in conjunction with Project ENTHUSE, the National Science Learning Centre and the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET).

The survey also showed 42% of people think secondary school teachers have a poor understanding of business and industry in general, with 30% saying they had an adequate understanding and just 9% believing it to be good.

Additionally, 57% of people believed teachers should undertake two-week work placements to improve their understanding of different career options.

Peter Finegold, head of education and skills at the IMechE, said: "The perception the UK public has regarding secondary school careers advice is entirely accurate – it just isn't good enough at the moment.

"We presently face a massive skills gap in the UK and it's absolutely vital that we are encouraging young people to study STEM subjects and take one of the many highly rewarding careers that scinece and engineering have to offer.

"Good careers guidance in our schools is the engine of social mobility. We know that young people look to their teachers for advice, yet only 9% of the UK population feels that teachers have a good overall understanding of business and industry."

Ian Vallely

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