Future TalentEd Summer Term 2020 Summer 2020 | Page 5

Careers news
IN BRIEF
A round up of news and resources for careers leaders
and students in secondary schools
Post-Covid rescue
package to support
disadvantaged pupils
Primary and secondary state schools in England are to
receive an extra £650m to help pupils catch up on teaching
missed during the coronavirus lockdown since March, as
part of a £1bn package. The remaining £350m will fund a oneyear
National Tutoring Programme to help the most disadvantaged
children in their education by offering low-cost tuition for schools
to purchase.
The announcement came amid growing pressure on ministers
to address the widening attainment gap caused by coronavirus.
Research shows that disadvantaged pupils are more likely to have
missed out on education during partial school closures than their
more privileged peers.
Details of the National Tutoring Programme and a support guide
for schools have been published by the Education Endowment
Foundation.
YOUNG PEOPLE
WANT TO MAKE A
DIFFERENCE
Good news for the planet! Young people in the UK aspire
to a career that will make a difference to the world
and to follow in the footsteps of scientists such as David
Attenborough and professor Brian Cox. Research conducted by
BAE Systems during National Apprenticeship Week earlier this
year among 2,000 young people found that:
29 %
of young people aged 16-24 are
inspired to follow in the footsteps
of high-profile scientists
30 % aspire to a career that will make a
difference to the world
34 % studied STEM subjects at school
66 % want to work in emerging
technologies
77 % would consider taking on
an apprenticeship
Introducing the
Department for
Opportunities
Employers are being asked to overhaul outdated recruitment
processes that shut out talented young people from
low-income backgrounds, under a campaign from the Social
Mobility Foundation’s new Department for Opportunities (DO).
Those from a wealthier background are nearly 80% more likely
to end up in professional jobs than children of working-class
families. Employers still give too much weight to Russell Group
universities and fee-paying and selective schools on CVs.
DO, launched in February, is tasked with mobilising a coalition of
employers, schools, colleges, universities, communities, charities
and councils to take action to improve social mobility. Chaired
by former Labour minister Alan Milburn, it will work alongside civil
society organisations to help them adopt practical social mobilityfriendly
approaches and will benchmark those taking the most
effective actions.
Its website also has ‘people stories’, guidance and tips to support
and inspire young people from less advantaged backgrounds.
Become a critical thinker
RESOURCE OF
THE MONTH
As part of TED’s ‘How to be a better human’
series, educator Brian Oshiro explains why
critical thinking is an essential skill in the 21st
century and how educators and parents can
encourage young people to think by asking
four simple questions.
STUDENT RESOURCE
Mental Music
STUDENT RESOURCE
A podcast made by and for teenagers,
Mental Music focuses on mental
health, sharing the message that music
helps people to vent, share, and
express themselves creatively. Episodes
focus on issues such as insomnia, how
sound affects everyday life, and social
media and mental health.
RECOMMENDED
PODCAST
National Theatre Collection
DRAMA
ONLINE
Students in UK state-funded schools can
access the National Theatre Collection from
home during lockdown. High-quality
recordings of 30 world-class productions are
available, as well as a range of tailored
learning resources. These include rehearsal
insights and short films that will aid students’
understanding of play texts and the theatremaking
process and may inspire them to
experience live performances in future,
or even to pursue careers in the arts.
STUDENT RESOURCE