What are the key messages the report gives out?
While careers provision has improved in recent years, there is still far too much variability – with the biggest differences between state and private schools.
We have found that guidance on different routes is unequal – whilst 46 per cent of year 13s say they have received a large amount of information on university routes during their education, only 10 per cent said the same for apprenticeships. Thirty-nine per cent of state school students said they feel unconfident about their next steps in education and training.
The key barriers for teachers in state schools to delivering guidance are time in the school day and funding. To improve the guidance on offer, many senior leaders in English state schools want to see additional visits from employers (47 per cent) and more visits from apprenticeship providers (39 per cent).
What do teachers and leaders need to improve careers education? And what can they do themselves to improve this picture?
A new careers strategy is urgently needed from the government, which should set out a minimum ‘careers structure’ for all schools, including having a Careers Leader, being part of a Careers Hub and having access to a professional careers adviser. Better earmarking of careers guidance in both the overall curriculum and individual subject specifications could also help leaders make space for careers activities in the school timetable.
The government should ensure better support and guidance is offered
In the immediate term, there should be an individual with a clear responsibility for careers on both a school’s SLT (ideally a Careers Leader) and governing body so they can feed into top-level decisions. Where possible, we would also like to see careers activities as a key part of pandemic catch-up plans.
How can the skills sector, employers, and government help them?
As well as publishing a new careers strategy, the government should ensure better support and guidance is offered to schools so they can deliver high quality guidance on apprenticeships and other technical routes after leaving school.
We also found that only three in 10 year 13s have completed work experience arranged through their school, meaning thousands of young people are missing out on vital opportunities to experience the workplace and develop employable skills. We would like to see all 14- to 16-year-olds have access to work experience opportunities, with both schools and employers supported to offer high-quality placements.