CEIAG for Headteachers, Governors and SLT
What every headteacher should ask themselves about careers education
Tuesday 30th April 2013
The following comment I wrote in reply to a Linked in post asking what would make headteachers sit up and take notice of careers education and guidance. I'm fully hoping that some headteachers will disagree and add what they do at their school to the comments. However, I must sadly say that these teachers are, in my experience in the minority.
"Given the relentless drive towards exam results and the constant changes that are affecting the curriculum, I believe that most Head Teachers would not bother about anything that isn't going to directly impact the school rather than the pupils.
It's a sad indictment that Heads have very little incentive to improve the delivery of good quality CEIAG solely for their pupils own benefit. Unless of course the mighty OFSTED has a direct interest in it and it could stop the school achieving good or outstanding at the next inspection, I don't think we'll see much change in that...
Unless, of course, they read the updated Statutory Guidance which was published last month which stated,..
"In fulfilling their duty, schools should secure access to independent face-to-face careers guidance where it is the most suitable support for young people to make successful transitions, particularly children from disadvantaged backgrounds or those who have special educational needs, learning difficulties or disabilities."
A footnote then declares "Independent is defined as external to the school. Schools can retain any in-house arrangements but should supplement them with external sources of careers guidance - which could include an external careers provider, employer visits, mentoring, website and telephone helpline access. Taken together, these external sources should include information on the full range of education and training options, including Apprenticeships."
The odd Head Teacher might then ponder - "Hmmm ok so I guess we ought to do something, the guidance says we SHOULD, can't be just a website now can it? What do we do?"
It's only when some bright spark comes along and waves the OFSTED criteria for Careers under their nose that they realise that Careers comes under Leadership and Management.
OFSTED'S website sets out the following criteria
- ofsted pupils receive good quality independent and impartial information and advice on the full career options available to them, including information on vocational provision, such as apprenticeships
- pupils have the information, knowledge and understanding they need to make informed choices about the subjects and programmes they take in school as a first step to longer term career goals
pupils have the opportunity to participate in programmes that support their medium and long term plans for progression to further education, vocational training and employment.
So, how can we wake Head Teacher's to this fact? What is going on in your school"
