Prepare pupils for the world of the future.

Pupils should be prepared for a world that could see them taking up 40 different jobs before reaching the age of 100, a futurologist has said.They may earn a living from sharing-economy apps Uber and Airbnb rather than through a traditional career, Rohit Talwar, from Fast Future, said.

Mr Talwar presented his findings at the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference (HMC) annual conference.

HMC said it was ready to take part in a debate about the "nature of education". The group, which represents leading fee-paying schools, is meeting for its conference in St Andrews, Fife.

Mr Talwar, chief executive of Fast Future Research, which advises companies and governments on how to prepare for the long term, said it was crucial to think about what skills would be needed in the future. He cited studies suggesting between 30% and 80% of all the jobs that exist currently will disappear in the next 10 to 20 years, as businesses increasingly invest in automation.

Mr Talwar, who advises companies what the world might look like in five to 50 years, said the pupils of today could go on to have a "portfolio career". According to him, Will it be right to assume that everyone will still have a job? Or will it be natural for 50% of the population to not be working?

"We need to start thinking about those things; we need to start thinking about the kinds of skills we'll need to help people stay employable."