Teenagers in Cheshire learn job interview skills early to fight youth unemployment

Fourteen- and 15-year-old pupils at Sandbach High School and Sixth Form College in Cheshire are taking part in mock job interviews as part of dedicated career lessons. Students practise firm handshakes, good eye contact, and how to answer common interview questions every fortnight alongside their usual classes.

Wider Crisis

Across the UK, nearly a million young people aged 16 to 24 are not in education, employment or training, a group referred to as Neet. Prime Minister Andy Burnham has described this high number as both a moral failure and an economic catastrophe. A major independent review by former Labour health secretary Alan Milburn is expected to set out recommendations on how to tackle the issue and get more young people into work.

School Approach

At Sandbach High School, careers teacher Paisley Charlton and head teacher Ellen Walton ensure students learn employability skills early, including a speed-networking event in Year 7 and nine display principles like resilience. Since the school overhauled its careers education a couple of years ago, none of its students has become Neet upon leaving at 18. Meanwhile, charities like Youth Careers Collective bring employers into schools, though chief executive Matt Lent warns that schools preparing pupils is not enough and employers must also create accessible opportunities.

Context

Youth unemployment remains a major policy challenge across the United Kingdom, leading to various proposals involving both school curriculum changes and welfare system reforms. Early career guidance aims to bridge the gap between education and the modern workplace by building practical communication skills before students reach working age.