Former cabinet minister Alan Milburn has warned that an 'exam-obsessed' school system is leaving young people unprepared for work. Milburn, who is leading a government-commissioned review into youth employment, cited a YouGov survey showing that nearly three-quarters of teachers believe there is too much emphasis on passing exams.
The survey of 1,004 primary and secondary school teachers in the UK found that 74% said there was too much focus on exams, while 73% felt there was insufficient attention to preparing pupils for employment or developing 'soft skills'. Milburn said the data should act as a 'gauntlet' to schools and policymakers, arguing that academic achievement and employability are not competing priorities.
Milburn emphasised that in a fast-changing labour market, schools need to equip young people with communication, collaboration, agility and creativity alongside formal qualifications. The polling indicated that 73% of teachers believe the curriculum could be adapted to deliver broader work-focused skills without lowering standards.
There was strong support for improved careers provision, with 98% backing career advice in all schools, 92% supporting more vocational pathways before age 16, and 95% supporting alternative routes for struggling pupils. Six in 10 teachers said young people's soft skills had worsened over the past five years, and 66% believed overall work readiness had declined.
Milburn's review, commissioned in late 2025, is examining the rise in young people not in education, employment or training (NEET), with nearly 1 million 16- to 24-year-olds in this category. The final report is expected this summer and will make recommendations across education, welfare and employment systems.
