From September 2012, schools will be legally responsible for securing access to independent and impartial careers guidance for all pupils in years 9 to 11. In the context of this new duty, careers guidance consists of services and programmes intended to assist pupils to make and implement education, training and occupation choices and to learn how to manage their careers.
Careers guidance secured under the duty must include information on all 16 to 18 education or training options, including Apprenticeships. In March 2012, the Department for Education published Statutory Guidance for Schools – Careers Guidance. Schools must have regard to this in exercising their new responsibilities.
Apart from the elements identified in the statutory guidance, schools are free to decide what careers provision to make available in accordance with the needs of their pupils. The purpose of this document is to offer additional practical information that your school may wish to draw on when interpreting your new responsibilities and deciding on the most appropriate forms of independent careers guidance for your pupils.
