Alan Milburn, the former Labour cabinet minister leading a government review into youth employment, has criticised the school system as being 'exam-obsessed' and failing to prepare young people for the workplace. He cited a new survey showing that nearly three-quarters of teachers believe there is too much emphasis on exams and not enough on developing 'soft skills' for employment.
The YouGov poll of 1,004 UK primary and secondary teachers found that 74% said there was too much focus on passing exams, while 73% felt schools did not adequately prepare pupils for work or teach skills like communication and collaboration. Milburn argued that academic achievement and employability should not be seen as competing priorities, stating: 'High educational standards and real-world skills are not in competition.'
Milburn's review, commissioned by the government in late 2025, is examining the rising number of young people not in education, employment or training (Neet). Official figures show nearly one million 16- to 24-year-olds in this category, prompting concern about long-term economic and social impacts. The final report is expected this summer.
The survey also revealed strong teacher support for improved careers provision, with 98% backing career advice in all schools, 92% supporting more vocational pathways before age 16, and 95% favouring alternative routes for struggling pupils. Six in ten teachers said young people's soft skills had worsened over the past five years, and 66% believed overall work readiness had declined.
Milburn said the data should act as a 'gauntlet' to schools and policymakers, urging them to equip young people with 'communication and collaboration skills, agility and creativity' alongside formal qualifications. He added: 'With nearly a million 16- to 24-year-olds not in work, education or training, a system judged more on exam results than student destinations will rightly be scrutinised by my review.'
