Careers Guidance

Thursday 10th April 2014 Written Statements

[The Minister for Skills and Enterprise (Matthew Hancock)]

As part of plans to reform the education and skills systems we need better support to prepare young people for the world of work.

Today I am publishing revised statutory guidance, “Careers guidance and inspiration in schools”, which will be effective from September 2014.

As evidence shows that the best people to inspire and guide young people are those in good careers themselves, this guidance strengthens the requirement for schools to build links with employers to inspire and mentor pupils, helping them to develop high aspirations and fulfil their potential.

The guidance sets a clear framework for the provision of advice and guidance, giving schools clarity on the required approach to ensure that expectations are set high, and all young people can access the support they need to understand and navigate an ambitious range of career options.

The guidance emphasises the need to provide pupils with direct experience of the world of work, a clear view of the labour market and a good understanding of progression routes through education, including apprenticeships and university. The guidance highlights the benefits of pupils having face-to-face discussions to explore career ideas with a range of people including alumni, careers advisers, coaches, mentors and other inspiring individuals. There is now no excuse for schools and colleges not to engage local employers to support students in the transition from education to employment.

Departmental advice published alongside the guidance provides examples of inspiring activities that can be embedded within a clear advice and guidance strategy linked to outcomes for pupils. It also contains details of organisations that help to broker relationships between schools and employers, and case studies demonstrating high-quality advice and guidance. This paints a clear picture of what good careers guidance looks like, offering evidence of what works.

The guidance sets out clearly how schools will be held to account, confirming Ofsted’s intention to take greater account during school inspections of the quality of careers guidance and of pupils’ destinations. This sits alongside the new accountability structures published last week, which will hold schools to account for pupil destinations, as well as English and Maths and exam results.

The new guidance is available on the Government website www.gov.uk and copies have been placed in the House Libraries.