In a bold call to action, the head of the UK’s largest airport group has challenged businesses to play a pivotal role in tackling the nation’s escalating school absence crisis. Manchester Airport Group CEO Ken O’Toole believes that companies have a “moral obligation” to provide work experience opportunities to children from as early as primary school age.
Alarming Truancy Rates Spark Concern
O’Toole’s plea comes amidst startling figures revealing the extent of the truancy problem. A recent report by the Institute for Fiscal Studies found that nearly two in five pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds are persistently absent, missing at least one day of school per fortnight on average. Overall, school absences have surged by almost two-thirds since 2019, with students now missing an average of 14 days per year compared to less than nine pre-pandemic.
The government should make it mandatory for businesses to provide real workplace experiences to youngsters of all ages – from primary school through to working age.
Ken O’Toole, CEO of Manchester Airport Group
Early Exposure Key to Engagement
O’Toole argues that waiting until students are in their teens to offer work placements may be too late to ignite their interest and engagement. He proposes that children as young as four should be taken on educational visits to local businesses, linked to the national curriculum. This early exposure, he believes, could help prevent students from slipping into a cycle of absenteeism later on.
Businesses as Community Pillars
The Manchester Airport boss emphasizes the integral role businesses play in the communities they serve. “When there is an emergency like the absenteeism epidemic the education secretary describes, we all have a role to play in tackling it,” he stresses. O’Toole points to the alarming truancy rates in schools near Manchester Airport as a prime example of where targeted workplace engagement could make a significant impact.
Government Crackdown Falls Short
While acknowledging Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson’s efforts to address the “absence epidemic” through measures like fining parents and introducing free breakfast clubs, O’Toole maintains that government action alone is insufficient. He urges businesses to step up and complement these initiatives by providing tangible, real-world experiences that can capture young minds and foster a passion for learning and future careers.
A Call for Collective Action
As the debate over tackling truancy intensifies, O’Toole’s proposal serves as a rallying cry for businesses to recognize their potential to effect change. By opening their doors to young people and offering meaningful workplace encounters, companies can help combat disengagement and absenteeism at its roots. It remains to be seen whether the government will heed this call and make early work experience a mandatory requirement, but the message is clear: in the fight against truancy, businesses cannot afford to be bystanders.
