Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Nash on 13 July (HL1032), how many teachers have (1) the Qualification in Career Guidance, (2) the Level 6 Diploma in Career Guidance and Development, and (3) both qualifications.

Schools have a legal duty to secure independent careers guidance for all pupils in years 8-13. Statutory guidance which underpins the duty states that schools should have a strategy for careers guidance which is developed in accordance with the needs and circumstances of their pupils. Schools should consider a number of principles for good practice, including the role that careers professionals can play in supporting pupils as one element of a varied careers programme.

The statutory guidance encourages schools to search for qualified careers practitioners in their area on the UK Register of Career Development Professionals. Individuals providing careers development services can apply to join the register if they are professionally qualified in a career development subject to a minimum of Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) Level 6, adhere to the Career Development Institute Code of Ethics and undertake and record a minimum of 25 hours continuing professional development each year. As at August 2016 there were over 1,200 people on the register.