SCHOOL-LEAVERS must be more "rigorous, rounded and grounded" for the world of work, according to businesses, which say many are ill-prepared when they step out of the classroom.
A lack of literacy and numeracy skills, along with the attitudes and attributes to hold down a job, are frustrating companies.
Businesses are now calling for a more robust system to help youngsters deal with moving out of the nurturing environment of school and into the world of work.
The findings are part of a CBI (Confederation of British Industry) survey, which shows more than half are concerned about the resilience and self-management of school-leavers and a third with their attitude to work.
In East Yorkshire, a "fair amount" of young people need some form of education when they move into the workforce, which frustrates companies, according to Rachel Mendham, head of training at Chamber Training.
She said: "Young people are not as ready-made as they used to be.
"There isn't that understanding that it is a job, an opportunity and real working life and that being late does matter, being on your mobile does matter, having a hangover does matter.
"Some young people just don't get it.
"It's common sense, but some young people just don't have it. It's frustrating because companies spend time and staff resources training them up. Quite often they have the ability – the ability is not the problem.
"It is frustrating when young people don't have the common sense and general attitude to work and that lets them down."
She said issues around numeracy and literacy highlighted in the report were heightened in Hull because pupils here fall below the national average.
She said: "Businesses here struggle. We have young people who struggle with the basics like English and maths, which creates a bigger issue for Hull than some other regions.
"The other issue is, young people tend to be very quick to throw a job away.
"In general, we see people get very good opportunities in companies and lose it through being constantly late, through throwing sickies, through having constant family emergencies, all of which will get them the sack.
"It is the work ethic and understanding how difficult it is to get a job and understanding the opportunity they have been given that is something companies struggle with.
"Very few young people come out of school who can't do what they need on the computer, it's the English and maths they struggle with."
Mike Whale, Hull branch secretary for the National Union of Teachers, says he believes "teaching to the test" could be part of the problem.
He said: "It is one of the biggest concerns. In secondary schools, because of the importance of English and maths, the curriculum is sometimes skewed towards extra lessons in those subjects. But ultimately, are we really doing them any favours?
"One of the outcomes has been more and more children are passing exams, but more and more people are dissatisfied with how they are coming out of school. Teachers are currently doing things that will get them through a test, rather than offering a breadth of curriculum that, in its truest sense, will be able to allow them to do things that employers want."
Secondary schools say they work hard to ensure pupils are ready to enter the workplace.
Andrew Chubb, principal at Archbishop Sentamu Academy, said: "We would accept that one of the key aims of any school is to equip people for life, and that includes the world of work."
Mr Chubb says he continues to allow students to enter for maths and English exams early, despite the fact this is frowned upon by the Government, which believes students should have one crack at the GCSEs.
He said: "They have the chance to improve. It is important to put students before league tables and we find this helps to keep pushing them on and helps with literacy and numeracy.
"We encourage pupils to have respect for themselves and for others. I think that is really important."
The school also works with organisations such as For Entrepreneurs Only and businesses in the area to help teach students about business and the world of work.
Mr Chubb said: "Our curriculum has a range of subjects that will develop the wider ability of our students.
"We have developed our own qualifications, financial awareness and preparation for working life, which we have had approved by Ofqual.
"We have also tried to develop skills in key areas where there is a skills shortage.
"We would like to think we are doing our bit to prepare pupils for where there are skills shortages."
'Schools need to do more to prepare leavers'John Cridland, CBI director general, said: "Businesses feel very strongly that the education system must better prepare young people for life outside the school gates, or risk wasting their talents.
"The journey from school towards the world of work can be daunting, so we must support schools and teachers to help develop the skills, character and attitudes students need to progress in life.
"We need young people who are rigorous, rounded and grounded, and business stands ready to play its part."
