MPs criticise Ofsted on careers guidance scrutiny

Giving evidence to a sub committee on education, skills and the economy, which is conducting an inquiry into careers guidance, Sean Harford, Ofsted’s national director of education, said the quality of careers advices was “not an area that will downgrade a school”.

Instead, he said inspectors are more likely to focus on careers advice in their inspection reports if it is of a high standard or as an example of strong leadership, rather than if it is of a poor quality.

Harford said: “This is an area that needs encouragement, but doesn’t need big sticks waved over it”, adding that if schools are providing a good academic and vocational education, and fulfilling their duty to provide careers advice, the fact that it’s not fantastic would not be a reason to downgrade the school.”

But Amanda Milling, Conservative MP for Cannock Chase, said this approach meant there was “a danger that it is just seen as something offering added value” and could be viewed by schools as just “an add on”.

She added: “Isn’t there an argument that they (schools) should be judged on their interest in careers advice?”

Committee co-chair Iain Wright, the Labour MP for Hartlepool, called on Ofsted to “give more weight” to the quality of careers guidance in schools “otherwise there is a significant danger down the line” of pupils life chances suffering through poor advice.

“We need to find a way of making schools accountable,” Wright added.

A thematic review of careers advice services in schools carried out by Ofsted in 2013 found that just one in five were giving pupils information about a wide range of career options.

Shortly after its publication, the government revised its statutory guidance for schools to put greater emphasis on developing links with local employers and highlighting vocational training opportunities.

Harford added that inspectors were watchful of schools offering careers advice that was too heavily biased towards pupils staying on in their sixth form to gain a funding advantage. Inspectors also looked at “destination data” on whether pupils went on to find work or training placements, as well as links with local employers and whether work experience placements were offered, he added.

Also giving evidence at the inquiry was Claudia Harris, chief executive of the Careers and Enterprise Company, which is leading a national mentoring campaign for pupils who are at risk of underachieving.

She said the company is currently researching how data about local careers opportunities can be better presented to young people.

“The early findings are that lots of young people do not look at data. They are not motivated to look at it,” Harris said: “There is so much of it that it can preclude effective use."

The sub-committee on education, skills and the economy is formed from members of the education select committee and the business, innovation and skills select committee.