Employers should teach primary-age children about work, says Milburn

Former Labour minister Alan Milburn, author of a government‑commissioned review of youth activity, is urging that children as young as four be introduced to the world of work. He argues primary‑age pupils should receive career talks and “taster” sessions from employers, while work‑experience placements should become mandatory for 14‑ to 16‑year‑olds. Milburn points to the latest Office for National Statistics figures, which show 981,000 people aged 16‑24 in the UK were neither in education, employment nor training between April and June 2026, and stresses that many become disengaged long before the traditional school‑leaving age. He notes that roughly four in ten teenagers currently receive no work experience, often because schools leave the task to families’ personal networks, and proposes a statutory two‑week placement for every young person in England.

The proposal comes amid a broader push to embed career‑based learning earlier in the curriculum, a move already mandated in Scotland and Wales for pupils as young as three. In England, careers guidance is currently required for ages 11‑18, but work experience remains optional. Milburn’s recommendations, due in the final instalment of his report expected this autumn, would make work experience a legal requirement for Key Stage 4 students and call on employers to deliver regular talks in primary schools to broaden horizons. Teaching unions have expressed cautious support: the National Association of Head Teachers’ Paul Whiteman acknowledges the potential to raise aspirations but warns that primary schools are already under “significant pressure” and any new mandates must be balanced against existing commitments. He cites programmes such as “Primary Futures,” which bring professionals into classrooms to challenge stereotypes, as a model for integrating career exposure without overburdening schools.

Reactions from parents and educators illustrate the debate’s nuance. Emma, a grandmother from Kirklees, worries that primary‑school children may be “grown up too quickly,” yet concedes that early exposure could ease later learning. Union leaders like Pepe Di’Iasio of the Association of School and College Leaders argue that classroom visits can ignite motivation and passion for post‑school opportunities, though he notes logistical challenges in rural areas. If adopted, Milburn’s plan would reshape England’s education landscape, potentially reducing the NEET figure by intervening before students reach 16, while also prompting schools to secure the necessary resources and partnerships to deliver consistent, high‑quality career experiences.

⚡ Effects Interpreter