Fewer than one in eight young people believe that future careers are the focus of the UK education system, according to new research. Meanwhile, two-thirds of the 1,000 teenagers aged 13-16 in the new study, published today, say league tables and academic grades are the priority in the system.

According to the research commissioned by the Career Colleges Trust, 17 per cent of young people say they have no idea of any options outside traditional academic routes, and a third say they have no idea about what career path to take.

Over a quarter of students believe the education system is “not fit for purpose”, and a third state this is because there is a “one size fits all” approach to education. A further 25 per cent say the system fails to cater to different learning needs and the same proportion feel that the curriculum and teaching styles are “outdated”.

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‘Skills gaps’

Bev Jones, chief executive of the Career Colleges Trust, said: “The education system is frequently talked about and debated, but rarely do we ask the young people themselves about their own experiences. This research highlights the concerns that teenagers have about their education and career pathways - and more support is needed to help them plan their futures.”

She added employers were facing skills gaps, and yet young people were not aware of the many opportunities open to them. “With schools focused on academic achievement, students are struggling to make key decisions about their futures and not getting the exposure to industry and work experience that they need in order to do this.

“Our network of Career Colleges work in partnership with industry to ensure that young people are getting access to employers - and being given a clear line of sight to the many potential careers on offer. This needs to happen in schools and colleges - and I would urge the government to take notice of what 13-16 year-olds are feeling in relation to their education.”

‘Giving young people opportunities’

A spokesperson for the Department for Education said the government’s education reforms, from introducing new GCSEs to overhauling apprenticeships and technical education, were “all about giving young people the knowledge, skills ‎and opportunities to succeed in whatever path they choose to follow”.

The spokesperson added: “The education secretary has been clear that education is not only about qualifications, but about making sure that our young people are resilient, resourceful and confident in their abilities.

“And to help young people make informed choices about their future we are providing more support and advice. The Baker Clause is making it easier for more students to find out about opportunities available to them in technical education. Furthermore, we are investing over £70m each year until 2020 to support young people and adults, which includes funding for the National Careers Service and The Careers & Enterprise Company.”