Careers Education and IAG

When developing careers education and IAG provision, consortia and partner organisations must take account of the legal requirements below.

Careers education
All maintained schools (including special schools, Pupil Referral Units and alternative settings) have a statutory duty to provide a planned programme of careers education in the curriculum for all pupils from year 7 through to year 11. National guidance advocates its continuation post-16 and there is a national non-statutory framework for careers education and guidance 11-19. Work-related learning is an important element of careers education and there is a statutory requirement for schools to provide such learning at key stage 4.

Careers information
All maintained schools (including special schools, Pupil Referral Units and alternative settings) and FE colleges must ensure that young people have access to comprehensive and up-to-date careers information relating to careers education and career opportunities. Where possible, this should be provided in a dedicated careers resource centre. Wherever resources are located, they must be accessible to all young people.

Careers advice and guidance
All maintained schools (including special schools, Pupil Referral Units and alternative settings) and FE colleges must make impartial careers advice and guidance available to all young people. This must be differentiated to meet individual need and may be provided by a range of staff including tutors, teachers, careers and personal advisers.

Information sharing
Information sharing between schools, colleges and external IAG providers (e.g. Connexions) is governed by information sharing protocols and national guidance on information sharing.

Schools must provide relevant information about the achievements and destinations of pupils to external IAG providers to help them in their work with young people.
Careers and personal advisers should, subject to parental veto, be provided on request with the contact details and any additional information about pupils that they require to ensure that individuals receive appropriate advice, guidance and support.
In relation to post-16 activities, external IAG providers may have information on young people through contact with schools and, with a student’s permission, may share relevant information with a college. Information arising from contact with students in college can be made available to staff unless students wish it to remain confidential.

Questions to ask yourself