3rd November 2013 9:00
By Blue Tutors
Concerns have been raised over the quality of education and careers advice available to students in England. Michele Sutton, the president of the Associations of Colleges, described the guidance received by students as “appalling”, and called for more impartial advice to be made available. Critics of the current careers advice system have suggested that the government should provide funding for a National Careers Service which would provide improved and impartial advice to students. There have long been concerns regarding careers advice available to students, and the president of the Associations of Colleges called for the government to address the issue as a matter of urgency.
One of the key points raised is that schools often fail to provide impartial advice, directing students to remain in the school sixth form rather than considering the other options open to them, such as colleges which offer vocational courses. Ms Sutton cited Education Funding data which showed that 50% of schools lose their students between year 11 and year 13, suggesting that they are not getting the right advice for them. She asked how many of those students who left had ended up not in education, employment or training, and warned the government that young people are not receiving the advice they require in order to enter the job market. A recent Ofsted report also highlighted this issue, and concluded that three quarters of schools are not providing adequate advice to students in year 11.
The Education and Employers’ task force commented that many young people do not have the skills or knowledge they need to take the next step into the workforce. They warned that students were making important decisions and taking steps into the world without having a clue what they were doing. They called for a better careers service which gave students face-to-face help, rather than relying on call centres and websites. They concluded that without these changes, many young people could go down a path which would condemn them from an early age.