Careers Education

Whatever delivery model is used for careers education, its content should enable young people to:

  • learn about the structures, systems and factors that guide, shape and influence people’s career prospects and career development
  • explore how these could affect their future choices, why they need to consider them when making their own career decisions and plans, and how they can do so
  • develop and practise the self-help skills they need to progress their own career plans and development, including the effective use of IAG.

 

Local consortia and their partners need to ensure that careers education provision is effective. Effective delivery requires:


a progressive framework of learning outcomes 11-19 – check that existing learning outcomes continue to meet young people’s needs. Look at how well they support progression and continuity in learning between key stage 3 and key stage 4 and between key stage 4 and post-16. Review the extent to which they support progression and continuity for young people who are learning in multiple locations. Check that progression takes the form of increased depth in learning rather than repetition.


appropriate learning activities and experiences – check that these:


appropriate teaching and learning strategies – review the existing repertoire to ensure that it is broad enough to motivate, interest, engage and support all young people. Check that the strategies used cover the main learning styles, actively involve young people, promote the use of new technologies and support the personalisation and differentiation of learning.


the practical involvement of a range of external contributors – check that the involvement of external contributors (e.g. parents, employers, young entrepreneurs, learning and skills providers and external IAG providers) supports individual progression by helping to broaden horizons, raise aspirations, promote lifelong learning and tackle stereotypical and traditional thinking.


appropriate assessment, recording and reporting systems – review existing arrangements to ensure that learning outcomes are used as a framework for assessment and, when appropriate, for accreditation. Use self-assessment and assessment for learning techniques to check that young people know how they are doing and what they could do to improve. Share this information with parents and carers if appropriate.


systems for monitoring, reviewing, evaluating and improving the programme – check that current arrangements generate enough reliable evidence to make informed judgements about young people’s career development, their progress in career learning and the activities that benefit them most. Identify areas for improvement and action to improve.

 

Questions to ask yourself

  • What are the strengths and weaknesses of current arrangements?
  • Do careers education activities help young people to make effective use of the IAG that they receive?
  • How do you know?
  • How could careers education provision be improved and who could help?

 

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