A massive 40% of girls were destined for clerical jobs. If they were bright and wanted a career, they would have been steered towards typing. They learned to touch-type in time to music or a metronome and studied shorthand and office skills such as filing.

Job prospects: Secretary, office clerk

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All children start using a computer at a young age and as such, touch typing, although an extremely useful skill, is not routinely taught in schools. Shorthand, once universally taught to would-be office workers, as largely fallen out of general use.

Students can now take subjects like GCSE applied business, which covers all aspects of how businesses are organised, including human resources and finances, such as preparing accounts and wages, administration including handling mail, record-keeping, organising meetings.

Job prospects: IT, office management, accountancy, PA, media, call centre