The education system in England is not sufficiently supplying children with the skills required to meet the country's long-term economic needs, a new report has claimed.

According to the Making Education Work document, which has been compiled by a group of academics and business leaders, a new cross-party body should be established in order to set longer-term educational targets with minimal influence from the electoral cycle.

In addition, the report calls for a greater emphasis on problem-solving and teamwork, while it suggests a baccalaureate system should also be introduced at A-level. 

The document opens with the line: "The secondary curriculum must support the economic strategy of the country."

However, the Department for Education insists pupils are being adequately prepared for the future.

The advisory group calls for an independent body to oversee the formulation of the curriculum for schools across England. This would comprise people in teaching jobs, employers, academics and political representatives.

It is hoped this would provide "consistency" and ensure education has a strategic focus, rather than one that is overly concerned with the electoral cycle. The report highlights the fact that the average time in office for an education secretary over the last 25 years is 24 months.

Sir Roy Anderson has chaired the body behind the report and emphasised the need for a longer-term educational outlook.

"Successful businesses have clear objectives and goals which they pursue consistently over time, yet changes in government make it difficult to achieve this for education," he explained.

"This new independent advisory group on the curriculum will build on the current government's efforts to bring in a more diverse range of experts and experience into the education system."

The document has been well received by the Association of School and College Leaders, but the Department for Education has insisted its 'new curriculum' has been developed as a result of extensive consultations with relevant experts and also highlighted the fact the new Tech Level qualifications have been recognised by a number of professions.

What do you think of the report's proposals? Are pupils being adequately prepared for the future. Let us know your views.