Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent estimate he has made of the number of careers advisers employed in schools.

The information requested is not held centrally. We do not collect data from schools about the number of careers advisers which they employ.

To target more support on those who need it most, the government announced £2.5million of funding for innovative, cost effective models for delivering personal careers guidance in schools and colleges. The funding will be used for personal guidance for young people, the training and ongoing continuing professional development of career guidance professionals and the development of a pipeline of qualified career guidance professionals for the future.

The careers strategy makes clear that personal guidance from a qualified practitioner is important to support young people to make choices about their education, training and careers.

Secondary schools and colleges are responsible for making sure their students receive independent careers guidance with a qualified careers adviser whenever significant study or career choices are being made.

We expect all schools to work towards meeting the 8 Gatsby Career Benchmarks by the end of 2020. The Gatsby Benchmark on personal guidance advises that all young people should have a careers interview by the age of 16, and the opportunity for one further such interview by age 18.