Education and Employers’ has launched a new report Motivated to achieve: How encounters with the world of work can change attitudes and improve academic achievement. The study shows that participation in career talks with volunteers from the world of work can change the attitudes of Key Stage 4 (14-16 years old) pupils to their education. This can influence their future plans and subject choices, motivate them to study harder and supports an improvement in academic attainment – even when taking place only a few months before their exams start. It showed, for the first time, that lower achievers and less engaged learners responded best to the intervention. This is particularly pertinent for schools facing funding challenges and considering where best to allocate their finite time and resources.
These two keynotes from the launch are well worth a watch:
Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School Leaders
