What does the Education Act 2011 mean for schools?
Since September 2012 schools, not local authorities, have had the statutory responsibility for securing access to impartial careers guidance for every pupil in Years 9-11 (Years 8-13 from September 2013). Schools are free to make arrangements for careers advice and guidance that fits the needs of their students. Schools can commission independent careers guidance from providers engaged in delivering the National Careers Service (NCS) or with other providers.
It also states that guidance should be independent and include information about all 16-18 education and training options including apprenticeships. The requirement is that face-to-face guidance is provided by somebody who is not employed by the school to ensure it is independent and impartial.
Local authorities continue to be responsible for ensuring the successful transition of all young people into further learning and have responsibility for ‘vulnerable’ young people including those with learning difficulties and disabilities and those at risk of being NEET.
The provision of Careers Education has been removed from statute but the government confirms that it is still important and should continue to be delivered.
How are schools held accountable?
Destination measures
These are being developed to measure the success of what schools are doing in preparing their students for progression at 16.
Destination measures will “look at the success of schools in helping their pupils to progress on to positive post-16 destinations” DfE May 2011
These measures, to be published in KS4 and KS5 performance tables, will help young people and parents judge how well schools are preparing their students to progress to positive destinations. This will indicate the quality of the careers information, advice and guidance being provided.
Ofsted
With the revision of the Ofsted inspection framework and the increased responsibilities being placed on schools there will be a focus placed on the quality of careers advice and guidance by Ofsted in the future.
Page last updated 29/04/13
