Schools will be forced to tell learners about vocational study and apprenticeship options by law after the government published statutory guidelines on careers advice.

For the first time, schools have been told they have to offer independent, impartial careers advice including the full range of options available to learners, and prove they are doing so in the best interests of pupils.

The guidance, published this morning by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, is directed at governing bodies, school leaders and school staff in maintained schools and local authorities which maintain pupil referral units.

Announcing the guidance in the Commons, Skills Minister Matthew Hancock said: “Building links between the worlds of education and work is a vital part of our reforms and I can announce to the House today that we are publishing the revised statutory guidance for schools on careers guidance and inspiration.

“This will drive links between schools and colleges and employers to inspire and mentor pupils and there will be no excuse for schools and colleges not opening their doors to employers and no excuse for employers not to engage with schools and colleges.”

The document says: “The statutory duty requires governing bodies to ensure that all registered pupils at the school are provided with independent careers guidance from year eight (12 to 13-year-olds) to year 13 (17 to 18-year-olds).

“The governing body must ensure that the independent careers guidance provided is presented in an impartial manner, includes information on the range of education or training options, including apprenticeships and other vocational pathways [and] is guidance that the person giving it considers will promote the best interests of the pupils to whom it is given.”

It also says: “The duty on schools, to secure independent careers guidance for all year eight to 13 pupils, is intended to expand advice and guidance for young people so they are inspired and motivated to fulfil their potential.

“Schools should help every pupil develop high aspirations and consider a broad and ambitious range of careers. Inspiring every pupil through more real-life contacts with the world of work can help them understand where different choices can take them in the future.”

The document clarifies that when the word “must” is used, as in the case of independent impartial advice, it means the school, body or organisation in question is required to do something by law.

The guidance has been cautiously welcomed by Rob Wall, head of education and employment policy at the Confederation of British Industry.

Mr Wall said: “The new guidance is a step in the right direction, but it’s a long road to mend our broken careers system and inspire the next generation of engineers, entrepreneurs and scientists.

“All of us – schools, Government and businesses – have a role to play in fixing the problem, but it is the Government that must lead from the front to make it a reality.

“We need a new system to build relationships between schools, colleges and local companies, allowing firms to get more involved.

“Vocational training should never be seen as second best, as it offers many young people routes to high-quality, well-paid and skilled careers.”

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3 Comments

  1. This guidance published by BIS is certainly a step in the right direction. In the last few years schools careers advice has been mainly limited to university. It is time that career advisers emphasise the potential that vocational education can offer. Apprenticeships are one good way of getting young people into work and more importantly keeping them in long term employment.

    By giving people more choice, we are offering more opportunity and addressing youth unemployment.

    Suzie Webb, Director of Education, AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians)

  2. I’ve seen the guidance for many areas over the years which has been ignored. Anyone remember when if a college published all of their results (PISA information) schools had to give the publication containing it to their year 11 pupils? The college I was in at the time did a brilliant packaging job advertising their free and impartial careers office. We got absolute proof that head teachers were putting them straight into dustbins and nothing was done. Having heard the totally bonkers incorrect careers advice at my son’s ‘outstanding’ school with reference to FE colleges and work-based learning I know the kind of people who will be giving this advice. When I was at school it was the most ineffective teachers who were given careers roles – wonder if history will repeat itself again? When government dismantles Connexions rather than strengthening it, the impartial bit goes out the window. My prediction is that if the Conservatives get in at the next election it will be about two years from now when this new ‘must do guidance’ gets pulled, having been ignored by schools. What punishment will they receive for giving poor and school-biased advice? Who will be inspecting it (Ofsted inspectors who in their recent or current school roles have been guilty of not providing it)?

  3. The move to integrate skills into the school curriculum is a good one. Both teachers and employers want to support young people to prepare for the world of work and connect them with suitable employment which includes the Apprenticeship. The challenge has not necessarily been the intention of employers and school but the ability to deliver this easily and systematically alongside other key priorities. Believe in Young People (BiYP) has been privileged to gain support through the Employer Ownership Pilot which has enabled us in partnership with schools and several national employers to provide a managed, quality assured programme connecting individual students to local employers offering future jobs and apprenticeships. The BiYP programme integrates key behaviours, skills and knowledge into the curriculum and measures and assesses the development of each student through to their chosen destination. BiYP currently supports 300,000 young people of which 40% have chosen the Apprenticeship route as a result. Sincere thanks to the employers and schools who helped achieve this!