Access to information and guidance about the options that are open to them – and the progression routes to which those options lead – is an important factor in ensuring young people are able to make the most of the opportunities that are available post-16. This goes hand-in-hand with a focus on raising aspirations, broadening horizons and increasing social mobility, to the benefit both of individual young people, and of the economy and society in general.
Schools will be free to make arrangements for careers guidance for young people that fit the needs and circumstances of their students, and will not be required to engage with any one particular provider.
Local authorities will retain their statutory duty to enable, encourage and assist young people’s participation in education and training. As we maintain the commitment to raise the participation age to 18 by 2015, the Early Intervention Grant will help local authorities to support vulnerable young people to engage in education and training, intervening early with those who are at risk of disengagement. It will also support transitional arrangements so that young people have access to impartial careers guidance in advance of the changes to the provision of careers services taking effect.
It is, of course, for local authorities to decide how they should make arrangements for supporting young people’s participation, taking into account the needs of their local communities.
You can find further information for schools and local authorities in the associated resources on the right-hand side.
