The institutions should also create a new modular and continually updated digital qualification, and introduce an independent, cross-sector Digital Education Council.

Cheltenham Festivals is the renowned arts and culture charity that hosts a prominent science festival every year, alongside highly regarded Literature Festival, Music and Jazz festivals.

The report, ‘Mind The Gap: Building the Workforce for a Digital Future’, emphasises that all school leavers must possess an acceptable level of digital literacy if they are to be equipped with the “adaptability, perseverance, and creativity” necessary to thrive in the future economy, a statement from QA and Cheltenham Festivals said.

The statement described the report as “the product of a unique gathering of stakeholders” and comes as the new Labour government beds down policy. Its signatories include figures from across the digital education sectors, from schools and academia to industry and the third sector. Signatories include AQA, KPMG, BCS and the National Grid Electricity Distribution.

Other recommendations of the report include:

• incorporating the assessment of digital skills in a balanced version of the government’s pupil performance Progress 8 measure
• the assignment of resource to support embedding digital skills in schools
• a requirement that every school appoint a ‘Digital Leader’ to be responsible for upskilling staff, and ensuring pupils and students develop digital competencies
• a focus on upskilling the existing workforce, partly via a roll-out of the ‘Digital Skills Passport’ via Jobcentre Plus offices and other community hubs
• over the longer term, the rationalisation of patchwork provision across industry-support digital skills training schemes to ensure consistency of coverage and cost-effectiveness.

The report is the product of a symposium held at Cheltenham Science Festival in June 2024, where key stakeholders were gathered together to produce a roadmap to close the “digital skills gap”.

Toby Barnard, managing director of the UK Public Sector at QA, said: “Digital skills are often mistakenly considered to be out of reach or not appropriate by many people due to all sorts of factors. This means our country’s skills shortage will increase over time. We must intervene.

“This report presents government with a cross-sector plan that offers both an initial solution to the skills crisis, and a longer-term solution for the future.”

The report is to be presented to the government this week and will be supported by a cross-sector promotion and advocacy campaign. Its authors and signatories contend that adopting its recommendations will enhance digital confidence and enable learners to succeed in a world of rapid change.

• Comment below on this story. Or let us know what you think by emailing us at [email protected] or tweet us to tell us your thoughts or share this story with a friend.