It may be true that careers advice can’t keep up with the jobs revolution, but the statutory guidance for governing bodies, school leaders and school staff published in March 2015 and updated in October 2018 indicates that schools are required to do just that. With a long list of nearly twenty requirements stating that schools must inspire young people, build strong connections with employers, be aware of the Careers and Enterprise company and the National Careers Service, help pupils to access information on the full range of education and training options and engage with local learning providers, a high demand is being made from schools.
To help school leaders achieve this, here are five pointers to features that need to be in place to meet these requirements. Overall, a whole-school approach is required to provide an environment where all stakeholders are supported to be aware of all the career options that will motivate and inspire students to work hard during their school years to achieve their ambitions.
Ensure all staff know about the Gatsby Benchmarks and the new approved technical education qualifications and apprenticeships.
The Gatsby Charitable Foundation’s Benchmarks are designed to develop and improve careers provision. The statutory guidance provides information to let schools know what they need to do to meet each one so that schools can be sure that they are meeting their legal duties. By ensuring all staff are in the picture, especially in terms of awareness of the new approved technical education qualifications and apprenticeship opportunities, the school can begin to utilise the skills and knowledge of the parent body, staff family and friends and the local community to extend opportunities for the students.
The Technical and Further Education Act 2017 came into force on 2 January 2018. This new law requires schools and academies to ensure that there is an opportunity for a range of education and training providers to access all pupils in Year 8 to Year 13 for the purpose of informing them about approved technical education qualifications and apprenticeships.
Possible strategies
- Do a survey (maybe using Survey Monkey) and find out what staff, governors and parents know about the topic. It can be used as a baseline to measure progress.
- Have assemblies and staff meetings that are focused on the topic.
- Have careers as a standing item on departmental meeting agendas.
- Put Gatsby Benchmark and Technical Qualification posters around the school and produce leaflets to inform parents and the local community, including feeder primary schools.
- Ensure staff and parents understand the importance of students having a career to aspire to and their commitment to school work.
- Use Rate My Apprenticeship School’s Advice Hub to access a number of different resources from blogs to posters, newsletters which give monthly updates on apprenticeships, opportunities and resources and answer questions to help support knowledge of the options available to school and college leavers, as apprenticeships have changed radically in the past few years.
Ensure that governors have received suitable training
The governing body should provide a lead in the area of careers and give clear advice and guidance to the head teacher in order to develop a strategy on for careers education and guidance which meets the school’s legal requirements in line with the Gatsby Benchmarks. Each school should have a governor who oversees careers education and guidance and who fosters employer involvement. In order to do this, governors need quality on-going support and training.