Tougher Ofsted guidance could be drawn up for better careers advice in schools
The Government is to unveil plans for a “comprehensive careers strategy” on Monday, which were initially scheduled for the beginning of 2016.
Minister for Skills Robert Halfon told a meeting in Parliament yesterday that incentives for schools to offer better careers advice will be reviewed by officials, as well as a tougher approach by Ofsted.
The Minister said good quality advice on apprenticeships and skills in schools is still “very rare” and that the “prestige” of career guidance needs to be raised to create widespread quality provision.
SCHOOLS NorthEast is holding a regional conference focusing on what a young person needs to succeed in the 21st century. FutureReady 2017 will look at what makes good careers guidance, character development and how to prepare pupils for life after school.
Delegates will also have the opportunity to meet around 50 businesses (regional, national and international) looking to collaborate with schools. Visit the FutureReady Conference website for more information or email info@schoolsnortheast.com to book your place.
All FutureReady delegates will receive a free place at the Spring Term Ofsted Briefings set up by SCHOOLS NorthEast. Adrian Lyons Ofsted’s HMI National Lead for economics, business and enterprise will speak at the events. Adrian led on the ‘Getting Ready for Work‘ report, published by Ofsted in November 2016.
The careers strategy was first announced by Education and Childcare Minister Sam Gyimah, who stated that it will ensure that teachers, careers professionals and employers know what the department expects of them.
We want to create a system that connects schools to the world of work and enables young people to make informed choices about their futures. Because one young person on the wrong early career path, who as a result is not able to fulfil their true potential, is one too many.
A system where all schools provide consistently high-quality careers support, in line with their statutory obligations, including more employer engagement and work experience opportunities. And this does not have to be traditional work experience, where young people risk spending a week or 2 in an office making tea and running errands. The best schools are increasingly making use of work insight days, work experience that runs for one afternoon a week over a whole year, or employers coming into schools to run lessons that link directly to the curriculum.
You can read his full speech here.
Further reporting on the Parliament meeting is available on the Schools Week website.