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Careers advice attacked as 'inadequate' Careers advice failing in schools, says Ofsted
(about 9 hours later)
Careers advice for young people in England must be radically improved, says the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD). Careers services in schools in England are not working effectively, according to a hard-hitting report from the education watchdog, Ofsted.
Employers believe there are "serious inadequacies" in how young people are advised about work, says Katerina Rudiger, head of skills at the CIPD. Three quarters of schools visited by Ofsted were not delivering adequate careers advice.
A report from Ofsted into careers services is expected to be published later on Tuesday. Since 2012 schools have been responsible for careers information.
Ms Rudiger says "greater investment" is needed to give independent advice. Ofsted chief Sir Michael Wilshaw said: "It is worrying that the new arrangements are failing to provide good guidance."
The CIPD, a professional body for humans resources experts, says that its research has shown that more than half of employers believe that young people are not receiving good enough careers advice. In response, the government says it will issue clearer guidance on what is expected from schools.
Wrong choices Graham Stuart, chairman of the education select committee, said the report made "an irresistible case for change".
Ms Rudiger says that there needs to be more funding targeted at young people, more face-to-face advice and schools need to be accountable for the quality of their careers guidance. The report from Ofsted, based on a survey of 60 schools, examines the quality of careers advice since responsibility was given to individual schools last year.
"Young people don't know what choices to make - and the penalties are severe if they make the wrong choices. They desperately need more advice and guidance," says Ms Rudiger. Lack of skills
A review of careers services is to be published by the education watchdog Ofsted, following a series of warnings that young people are not receiving sufficient information about the world of work. The watchdog found that "very few" schools had the skills to provide careers guidance.
This has also been linked to concerns about a lack of social mobility, with poorer youngsters unaware of the job opportunities that might be available to them. Schools could also buy in careers advice, but Ofsted says "few schools had bought in adequate service from external sources".
Earlier this year the House of Commons education select committee warned of a "worrying deterioration" in careers services. There were concerns about a lack of connection with employers and a tendency to prioritise academic pathways rather than to provide information about vocational training.
Schools have been made responsible for providing their own careers advice and there have been fears that provision has been downgraded. Schools were not promoting the National Careers Service, which offers advice through a phone line and website.
The Ofsted report says that the National Careers Service, which is for all ages, needs to improve its marketing to young people.
In its response, the government says the National Careers Service will be improved to "give young people a greater understanding of the full range of options available to them".
Skills Minister Matthew Hancock highlighted the importance of getting employers involved with schools and colleges.
"People with fulfilling careers are the ones who can really show young people what it is like to succeed in the world of work. That is why I want more employers involved in providing high-quality careers advice to the future workforce.
"We gave schools and colleges the responsibility for securing good careers advice for their pupils because they know them best.
"Ofsted highlighted excellent careers advice already being provided by schools, but I want all schools to do as the best do - inspiring young people, providing work experience and putting them in touch with employers."
Youth unemployment
Anne Spackman of Career Academies, which links schools with employers, said that work experience was a vital part of understanding about the jobs market.
"There is no shortage of people coming forward to act as mentors and no shortage of businesses looking to build an employee pipeline," she said.
"But, we have to channel that energy and goodwill into work experience, making it as easy as possible for businesses - however small - to be part of this new drive to help our young into work."
Ofsted's chief inspector Sir Michael Wilshaw said that high levels of youth unemployment made careers advice even more significant.
"It is vitally important that young people have access to information on the full range of career pathways available so they can make informed choices about their next steps.
"Our findings show that too few schools are doing enough to ensure all their students receive comprehensive advice about the breadth of career opportunities available to them."
Concerns about careers were echoed by employers and MPs.
Neil Carberry, the CBI's director for employment and skills policy, said: "We warned earlier this year that careers advice was on life support and this report confirms the scale of the problem. The government must act swiftly to make sure schools have the support they need.
"We agree that business has a key role to play - and employers stand ready to play their part. This must be part of a wider movement led by the government and involving education and career development professionals."
Earlier this year, the education select committee published a report warning of deteriorating careers services. Committee chairman Graham Stuart said the findings of the Ofsted report showed that it was "completely unacceptable" that so many schools were failing to provide effective advice.
"The education reforms the government has undertaken are undermined if there is no decent signposting within education and between education and the world of employment.
"The new National Careers Service should receive funding to help - and challenge - schools to deliver good quality careers advice."
Problems with careers advice has also been linked to a lack of social mobility, with poorer youngsters unaware of the job opportunities that might be available to them.
There have also been complaints that students do not have access to face-to-face advice, but have to use phone lines or a website.There have also been complaints that students do not have access to face-to-face advice, but have to use phone lines or a website.
The CBI has also issued hard-hitting warnings, saying that careers advice is on "life support" in many schools. Katerina Rudiger, head of skills at the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) says there are "serious inadequacies" and that more than half of employers believe that young people are not receiving good enough careers advice.
Careers support for adults and young people is provided by the National Careers Service, which in 2012-13 was funded by £84.4m from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, £14m from the Ministry of Justice and £4.7m from the Department for Education. Ms Rudiger says that there needs to be more funding targeted at young people, more face-to-face advice and schools need to be accountable for the quality of their careers guidance.