Careers 2020
2 November 2012
iCeGS and the Pearson Think Tank have just published a report called 'Careers 2020: Options for future careers work in English schools'. The report highlights worrying international evidence from other countries including the Netherlands and New Zealand, which witnessed a decline in both the extent and quality of careers work when responsibility and the associated funding was transferred to schools.
Last year's Education Act introduced this new responsibility for all schools in England for the first time but transferred none of the funding. The report recommends that the implementation of reforms such as the new Statutory Duty and the National Careers Service are carefully monitored and for schools to embed careers work across everything they do, including the curriculum. The Careers 2020 report includes a 'toolkit' for teachers to plan their cross schools approach to careers advice and researchers are asking them to take part in the next phase of the Careers 2020 research.
Louis Coiffait, Head of Research at the Pearson Think Tank said:
"With record youth unemployment rates and uncertainty about whether schools can provide good quality careers support, it‟s not surprising most teachers are worried about the careers advice available to pupils.
High quality education provision and careers advice are prerequisites for a socially mobile society so failure to get it right now will impact most harshly on some of our most disadvantaged communities for years to come".
Tristram Hooley of iCeGS, said:
"Schools have seen resources for careers education and guidance cut and have lost access to vital expertise. International research predicts that this approach is likely to lead to a decline in the extent and quality of careers advice and could have a negative impact on the economic health of an economy. Schools need to act now and think about how they can put careers at the heart of their mission and make meaningful links between the curriculum and young people‟s futures".
To view the report and press release click here.
The next phase is surveying educators (carried out by Pearson) to explore which careers activities recently took place in schools and which they are planning to deliver in the future. If you are involved in careers work in English schools you can share your opinions here anonymously.
