Government launches Careers Strategy after pilot in North East
SCHOOLS NorthEast takes a look at the main points of the Government’s new Careers Strategy, which was launched this week, and how this will impact our schools.
Gatsby Benchmarks – The Government will ask schools and colleges to meet the eight standards, publishing new statutory guidance in January 2018 setting out how to meet all of the Benchmarks. By adopting these Benchmarks, schools and colleges will be putting employers at the heart of the careers programme. Support will be tailored to address the needs of every young person, especially disadvantaged students, and data and technology will be used to drive improvements.
Designated Careers Leader – There will be an additional £4 million in new funding to provide “training and support” for at least 500 schools (working out around £8,000 per school) and colleges to train a dedicated careers leader. The government’s aim is for every school and college to eventually have a designated careers leader it hasn’t announced further funding for this. They will have responsibility for ensuring schools meet the Gatsby Career Benchmarks.
20 new “careers hubs” – A £5 million scheme will see 20 “careers hubs” set up across the country to link schools, colleges, universities and employers. The scheme will be run by the Careers and Enterprise Company, which to date has already received around £90 million in funding for its activities.
Careers trials in primary schools – These pilots will run in the government’s 12 social mobility “opportunity areas”, and cost £2 million. Under the trials, ways of engaging younger children on the “wealth of careers available to them” will be tested.
One “meaningful” business interaction a year – Secondary schools will be expected to provide pupils with “at least one meaningful interaction with businesses every year”. There will be a particular focus on employers from the science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) industries, to “help deliver the high-skilled workers we need in these industries”.
Timeline
January 2018
- Schools and colleges should use the Gatsby Benchmarks to improve careers provision, as set out in new statutory guidance.
- Schools must give providers of technical education and apprenticeships the opportunity to talk to all pupils.
September 2018
- A named Careers Leader should lead the careers programme in every school and college.
- Schools and colleges are expected to publish details of their careers programme for young people and their parents.
- CEC will begin to take on a broader role across all the Gatsby Benchmarks.
- 20 “careers hubs” will be funded by Government and supported by a coordinator from the CEC.
2018 and 2019
- New approaches to careers provision are tested and evaluated, to: encourage young people, especially girls, to consider jobs in science, technology, engineering and maths; understand what careers activities work well in primary schools; improve careers information, advice and guidance for young people and adults who are disadvantaged or vulnerable.
- CEC will provide tools to help schools and colleges meet the Gatsby Benchmarks.
- Careers Leaders training funded for 500 schools and colleges.
- Clear information about T levels is provided to parents, teachers, young people and careers professionals.
- New contracts for the National Careers Service in place.
- Results from the Career Learning Pilots collected and evaluated.
End of 2020
- Schools should offer every young person seven encounters with employers – at least one each year from years 7 to 13 – with support from the CEC.
- A new, improved National Careers Service website will include all of the information to help citizens make informed choices