CEIAG for Headteachers, Governors and SLT

Schools unable to meet need for careers information & guidance

Wednesday 5th February 2014

Careers Education in schools out of date & not supportive of vocational pathways

Two articles in the past couple of days have prompted me to put fingers to keys. TES' news on out of date careers info & The Edge Foundation's 'Too clever for vocational education'

Whilst this is not news to many careers professionals who foretold the probable results of handing over full control of careers education to schools, parents and other stakeholders are starting to see the results being reported almost daily in the UK press.

Handing Careers over to schools is a bit like asking your local MP to do your weekly shopping. They think they know what to do and how to do it, but in reality you're not likely to be very satisfied with the result. Teachers are not experts in career development skills and labour market information, both of which are important components of good careers education. It is unfair to expect a headteacher to know how to impliment a good careers programme without support or money to buy in that support.

This week's IPPR report highlights the need for brokerage services between employers and schools. They suggest using skill hubs. Skills hubs are "vehicles to align skills funding with local business needs, and sometimes to identify and
support people who lack the right employment skills". Not all areas have skills hubs, nor do all areas have Education Business Partnerships, who, historically, provided a similar focus for collaboration between schools and business. These too had their funding cut radically.

The National Careers Service has been charged with improving its offer to young people but, as I understand it, no extra money. I'm not a politician, I just want to see this mess improved, and quickly! What do you think should happen? Please comment and tell me.