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Press release: Ofsted finds careers advice is still hit and miss

Not all young people are getting good careers advice and this is leaving them at risk of making poorly informed choices about their future, according to a report published today by Ofsted, the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills.

The report, Moving through the system, shows that the quality of careers information, advice and guidance given to young people varied considerably across England and, in some cases, failed to meet the needs of those most at risk of ending up not in education, employment or training.

In the best examples, information, advice and guidance was used to ensure students stayed motivated. One school arranged for 17 Key Stage 4 students to attend a work placement for one day a week, and had also introduced a certificate covering fire and rescue in the community, awareness of hazards in the workplace and the young lifesaver award scheme. This was very popular with students and led to an increase in the proportion of those who moved on to some form of training, education or employment.

Christine Gilbert, Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills, Ofsted, said: 'It is important that all young people get good and impartial information, advice and guidance to enable them, together with their parents and carers, make well-informed choices about their future. It is encouraging to see the examples of good practice in this report which I hope will provide inspiration to providers across the country.'

Ofsted visited a range of provision, including schools and services for looked after children, in 10 local authorities in England. In eight of the 10 authorities, inspectors examined progress made since local authorities took over responsibility for information, advice and guidance services for young people, formerly managed by the national Connexions service, and visited individual projects that supported young people who are not in education, employment or training.

Children’s trusts, schools and colleges are now expected to work in partnership locally to commission services for information, advice and guidance, and to plan and implement arrangements to support the education of 14 to 19 year olds. The inspectors found that the transfer of responsibility had been well planned and managed in all the eight local authorities visited.

Despite good support from the Connexions service, in all the authorities visited inspectors found examples of carers, residential staff, teachers and tutors who were providing advice and guidance to young people but who had too little knowledge and understanding of the full range of options to do this effectively.

Looked after children were particularly vulnerable. Inspectors found that in nearly half of all cases the records of their academic performance and plans for the future were incomplete. In one of the authorities visited not all the carers had even seen the educational records of the children for whom they were responsible.

However, when looked after children were given good targeted support in school and there was a focus on their needs at local authority level it made a positive difference. More effective support was generally provided in the local authorities that had an officer with specific responsibility for looked after children. Most of the young people in the pupil referral units and special schools visited progressed into further education, employment or training.

A pupil referral unit used a programme of careers education beginning in year 9 – when students chose their options – going through to visits in year 11 to raise students’ aspirations. A trip to the local university gave pupils an insight into the opportunities available and student life, and a careers event organised in collaboration with the Connexions service featured five speakers from different vocational areas talking to pupils in small groups.

Notes For Editors

1. The report, Moving through the system: information, advice and guidance, can be found on the Ofsted website www.ofsted.gov.uk/publications/080273.

2. The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (Ofsted) regulates and inspects to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, work-based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

3. Media can contact the Ofsted Press Office through 020 7421 6864 or via Ofsted's enquiry line 0300 123 1231 between 8.30am - 6.30pm Monday - Friday. Out of these hours, during evenings and weekends, the duty press officer can be reached on 07919 057359.

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