At Life Lessons, we hear the same concern again and again from schools, employers, and careers advisors — too many young people are asking a simple but powerful question: “What is the point of all this?” This question shapes our thinking about how to make education feel more connected to young people’s lives, choices, and futures.
A System Under Pressure
England and the wider UK are experiencing a persistent skills gap. Employers continue to struggle to recruit people with the right skills, particularly foundational and transferable skills, even as training investment falls and work requirements evolve. The Employer Skills Survey 2024 shows that skills mismatches and shortage vacancies persist across sectors, meaning many employers find it hard to fill roles due to lack of suitable applicants.
At the same time, young people’s engagement in work and learning is a concern. Latest official data show that around one in eight 16–24-year-olds in the UK are NEET (not in education, employment or training), roughly 946,000 young people, highlighting a stubborn challenge in connecting young people to meaningful pathways.
What Careers Advisors Are Seeing
When we asked careers advisors what they’re seeing in schools, on our January webinar, a consistent picture emerged:
- Low motivation, confidence, and aspiration
- Difficulty coping with setbacks and a fear of failure
- Unrealistic career expectations shaped by social media or parental pressure
- University seen as the only “successful” route, with other pathways undervalued
- Limited awareness of apprenticeships and vocational options
- Scarcity of entry-level jobs, training places, and local opportunities
- Heightened barriers for SEND students, including anxiety and low self-belief
Beneath many of these challenges lies a deeper issue: young people are scared of making mistakes and lack the confidence to take safe risks and learn from them.
Confidence Comes from Trying
Confidence doesn’t come from always being right — it comes from trying things that feel unfamiliar, making mistakes, and discovering you can recover. Whether it’s painting a room for the first time or applying for something uncertain, success builds on small wins. These are the moments that grow belief, courage, and resilience.
But risk-taking only works in an environment where young people know there is a safety net — supportive adults and schools who will catch them if they fall.
Careers Education Needs a Culture Shift
Careers education can no longer be a siloed add-on focused only on destinations at age 18. It must be:
- Embedded across the curriculum
- Part of an inclusive, supportive school culture
- Focused on skills for life, not just outcomes
Importantly, all pathways — academic, vocational, technical, creative, entrepreneurial — must be open, respected, and free from stigma. Inclusive schools celebrate difference and recognise that success looks different for every young person.
Broadening What Success Means
Success isn’t just a job title. It can include:
- Building healthy relationships
- Starting a business, travelling, or learning a new skill
- Setting goals and discovering personal strengths
How Life Lessons Supports This
The Life Lessons curriculum helps young people grow:
- Mental strength and resilience
- Emotional regulation
- Oracy and communication
- Empathy
- Critical thinking
Our goal is to ensure young people leave education not only with qualifications, but with confidence, self-belief, and the courage to pursue futures that feel meaningful to them.
Author Jamie O’Connell – Co-CEO Life Lessons – January 2026
