Schools: Careers Advice

Baroness Uddin Excerpts

Monday 20th October 2014 Lords Chamber

[Lord Nash]

Yes. We believe that one-to-one careers advice is appropriate in certain circumstances but obviously all schools seek to identify their students’ passions and interests at an early age and develop them. The evidence is quite clear from a number of reports, including those from McKinsey and Education and Employers Taskforce, that the best careers advice for young people comes through activities and contact with the world of work. For many of our young people, particularly those from workless households, careers advice these days is as much about inspiration as actual advice on detailed careers.

[Baroness Uddin (Non-Afl)]

My Lords, the Minister will be aware of the importance of face-to-face careers advice for pupils, but particularly for those with learning disabilities, special educational needs and conditions such as autism, only a small number of whom are actually able to access jobs. Can the Minister assure the House that all those disabled people requiring or requesting careers advice will receive it from fully trained careers advisers who are well trained on disability rights and matters?

[Lord Nash]

Our guidance is quite clear that particularly for children with SEN, whether they have autism or are in other situations, one-to-one careers advice may well be appropriate.