Who can help?
Changes to careers education, information, advice and guidance
We are the careers service for young people in Leicester, and have been helping young people in to jobs, training and educaton and providing careers education, information, advice and guidance since 2002. This page explains the changes to careers education and careers advice for young people, and how you can get help for your teenager.
Young people at school or college
Since September 2012 schools, not local authorities (via Connexions) have been responsible for providing careers guidance for students in years 9-11 (years 8-13 from September 2013).
Schools are now free to make arrangements that they feel meet the needs and circumstances of their students, but they have to ensure that the careers guidance provided is independent and impartial. This also means ensuring that all young people know about all the options open to them.
If your teenager is in Year 9-13 ask their school or college about their arrangements for careers advice.
Young people no longer in education
If your teenager is 16-18* lives in Leicester and is not in work or education they can visit our centre to see an adviser and get help to find a job, get training or get on a course.
*up to 25 for those with a disability.
Our centre opening times.
If you live in the county the service provider is Prospects.
Young people in work or training
Your teenager's employer or trainer might be able to offer advice. They can also look on the National Careers Service website.
The National Careers Service
The government established a National Careers Service in April 2012. This provides a website and telephone helpline for young people and adults and a face-to-face service for adults. The National Careers Service is not funded to offer a face-to-face service to young people.
Raising the participation age
From 2013 all young people will have to remain in some type of learning until the end of the academic year in which they are 17. From 2015 young people will have to remain in learning until their 18th birthday. This means that it is even more important that young people receive the help and support they need to make the right choices and reduce the number making the wrong choices and dropping out of their learning.
The role of local authorities
Local authorities are responsible for encouraging young people to participate in post 16 learning. They are also responsible for supporting vulnerable young people, including those with learning difficulties and disabilities and those at risk of disengagement. Connexions Leicester City are now part of Leicester City Council and deliver this support.
Careers information
Schools should provide information about all the opportunities available including training and apprenticeships.
Careers education
Careers Education is still important and programmes should still be provided to help young people develop the knowledge, skills and understanding to make effective well-informed decisions about their next stage of learning and their future careers. This ensures the careers guidance that is provided is more effective.
What does this mean for me and my child?
In order to ensure that pupils get the best possible advice and guidance there are a number of checks that parents can make. They should check that the school is offering:
- a service which is independent, impartial and in the best interests of pupils - the service should be delivered by somebody who is not employed at the school and provide information, advice and guidance about the full range of opportunities open to young people without being pressured by the school or college to give priority to their own sixth form or other provision.
- a service which is of high quality – delivered by a qualified careers adviser with access to professional networks through which they are regularly updated on labour market intelligence and changes to the range of opportunities on offer in further and higher education and apprenticeships. Organisations should be recognised by an appropriate quality award such as the Matrix Standard.
Schools can buy in these services from a variety of sources including Connexions Leicester City who have been successfully delivering careers guidance services in this area since 2002.
Page last updated 29/04/13
