September 2024
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This conference considered next steps for careers guidance in England’s primary and secondary schools, and post-16 settings.
It brought together stakeholders and policymakers to discuss priorities and key considerations for the new Parliament, in light of the Government’s commitment to boost careers guidance for one million students through recruiting 1,000 new careers advisors, alongside a commitment to deliver two weeks’ worth of work experience for every young person to combat skills shortages in the workplace.
The conference also took place amidst the new Government’s wider plans to establish a Youth Guarantee of access to either training, an apprenticeship or support to find work for all 18-21 year-olds. Plans also include creation of a new national jobs and career service by merging Jobcentre Plus and the National Career Service, with Labour Party analysis prior to the election suggesting that one million children are at risk of receiving inadequate information about the jobs and opportunities available to them.
Delegates also discussed what will be needed for policy and implementation to build upon recommendations and address concerns from:
- the Education Select Committee’s inquiry into Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance in the last Parliament
- Ofsted’s Independent review of careers guidance in schools and further education and skills providers, published last year
Areas for discussion raised by the Education Committee included:
- funding for school careers programmes and upskilling for teachers
- addressing gaps in access to quality work experience following the pandemic
- and access to quality careers guidance for disadvantaged students and students with SEND
Delegates also looked at key challenges identified in Ofsted’s thematic review, including:
- how to increase the amount of time available to schools to effectively deliver careers guidance
- options for better linking careers guidance to a school’s curriculum
- improving close working between school leaders, teachers and careers staff
- enhancing the use and collection of destinations data
Further sessions assessed the role of careers hubs, looking at best practice in facilitating partnerships between employers and providers, and approaches to engaging employers.
The quality of careers guidance and how it can be raised in schools, post-16 settings and non-school youth organisations were discussed, alongside priorities for the equal promotion of academic, technical and vocational routes following a change in the law last January, which requires all year 8-13 pupils to have at least six opportunities to meet with technical education providers.
Delegates assessed progress following the announcement of the primary careers programme, with discussion on how best to develop cross-curriculum approaches to implementing careers guidance in primary settings, as well as raising aspirations for children and supporting staff.
We are pleased to have been able to include keynote sessions with: Alex Iles, Head, Careers Strategy and Infrastructure, DfE; Professor Carol Davenport, Director of NUSTEM, Northumbria University; Alex Hughes, Chair of Trustees, Green Jobs Foundation; David Morgan, Chief Executive, Career Development Institute; and John Yarham, Deputy Chief Executive, The Careers and Enterprise Company.
All delegates were able to contribute to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates. Those that attended include officials from DfE; ETI; DWP; IfATE; SMC; Ofsted; Department of Education, NI; DFHERIS, ROI; DSIT; HMRC; RAF; Department for the Economy, NI; and the Welsh Government - as well as a parliamentary pass-holder from the House of Lords.
