Pearson School Report 2025: At least 1.9 million students not ready for their next stage of learning

Core Insights - The 2025 Pearson School Report indicates that over 1.65 million primary and secondary students and more than 250,000 college students in England may lack the emotional readiness and academic level required to progress in their education [1][3]. Group 1: Student Readiness - Teachers estimate that at least one in three primary (32%) and secondary (31%) students are not ready to advance, while 43% of college tutors express similar concerns for 16-18-year-olds [3][4]. - Factors affecting student readiness include special educational needs and/or disabilities (79%), struggles with writing (75%), and independence (73%) for primary students; self-motivation (77%), independence (65%), and social maturity (62%) for secondary students; and digital wellbeing (30%) and critical thinking (30%) for college students [4][5]. Group 2: Educational Gaps and Suggestions - A significant number of students express concerns about their preparedness for future learning, with 17% of school students and 26% of college students feeling unready [3][4]. - Suggestions from educators include integrating real-life lessons, enhancing practical skills, adapting to AI advancements, and establishing clearer links between education and career paths [5][6]. - A notable 40% of students feel that money management and budgeting skills are lacking in their education, alongside other essential skills such as communication and job readiness [5][6]. Group 3: Curriculum and Assessment - There is a call for a reduction in curriculum volume and less emphasis on final exams, with 20% of college students indicating that curriculum volume impacts their learning [5][6]. - 58% of school teachers advocate for addressing curriculum volume, while 34% of school teachers believe modular assessments would enhance outcomes [5][6]. Group 4: Future Preparedness - The report emphasizes the need for education to evolve in response to technological advancements, with 44% of secondary teachers feeling students are not adequately prepared for an AI-driven world [5][7]. - The importance of lifelong learning is highlighted, as today's children will face a rapidly changing job market influenced by robotics and AI [7][8].