It’s Ada Lovelace Day – and what better time for digital skills, and technical education, to be top of the agenda. And indeed, with the prime minister’s focus on 16-19 education last week, this is a pivotal moment. Because it is absolutely critical we raise the aspiration and prestige of technical pathways if, as a nation, we are to compete globally and realise our industrial aims and economic needs.
In tech, where we at Ada, the National College for Digital Skills, are focused, employers are crying out for talent. Yet fewer than half of British employers believe young people are leaving education with sufficient digital skills to access the industry. And no wonder, when over 50 per cent of secondary schools in the UK were not even offering computer science as a GCSE in 2021.
So while I support the prime minister’s ambition, I question whether his proposals are the best way to achieve it.
Recruitment and retention problems in teaching are well known, but there is a regrettable lack of focus on FE – where the situation is far worse. According to research for the Lifelong Education Commission, staffing rates have fallen by one-third over the past 10 years.
So I fear that career bonuses of £30k, while obviously welcome, won’t be enough to recruit the high-calibre dual professionals we need, who can combine up-to-date experience and expertise in industry with the ability to teach young and adult students to a high standard. This is particularly the case in tech, which already commands salaries 80 per cent higher than average.
