Young people call for action on careers guidance

Following consultation work at its annual conference, Medway Youth Parliament found that many students in the area do not believe they receive adequate careers guidance.  

As a result, they decided that one of their main campaigns for 2012 would be around independent careers and post-16 advice.

They have launched an e-petition in an attempt to secure a national debate.

“We believe [unsatisfactory careers advice] is a significant issue that affects young people across the country,” the petition states.

“Cuts in school funding, coupled with the responsibility of delivering careers advice passing from local authorities to schools in September, could exacerbate the problem. 

“Since it is a statutory legal requirement for every student to receive independent advice, a minimum standard of ‘good’ advice must exist."

The petition, which could be debated in parliament if the number of signatories reaches 100,000, calls on the government to define what would constitute a “good” level of advice.

It also states that Ofsted should regulate schools on their careers and post-16 advice as part of their routine inspections to ensure that all education providers supply independent advice of a “good” level or better. 

A range of concerns about the quality of careers guidance have been raised in recent months ahead of the duty to secure access to independent careers guidance being transferred to schools.

In the past, local authorities shared around £200m of government funding to provide information, advice and guidance (IAG) and careers services to young people, but central funding for provision has been scrapped. 

Instead, the statutory guidance suggests that schools fund services through their overall budgets, including the pupil premium.

In March, apprenticeship providers warned that Ofsted must check that schools are offering impartial careers advice during inspections.