The long-awaited statutory guidance on independent and impartial careers 
guidance for young people was published by the Department for Education on Monday 26th March.
You can view the guidance on the DfE website http://www.education.gov.uk/g00205755/statutory-guidance-for-schools-careers-guidance-for-young-people or download a pdf version here.
Find a digest of the guidance by Anthony Barnes, CareersEtc national manager, with suggested action points for schools here.
This study examined young people at risk of becoming NEET (not in employment, education or training) and the evidence base on intervention programmes that can make a difference in terms of reducing levels of NEET. The study drew on data from the Labour Force Survey (2003 – to 2010) which is a representative quarterly survey sample of 60,000 households in the UK, and used the data to track what young people (aged 16 to19) were doing one year after their initial survey response. The survey collects information on participants’ ‘current education’, ‘highest qualification studying for’, ‘economic activity’, and whether they are in employment, full-time education, part-time education or not in education or training. Data were also available on participants’ socio-economic background and prior GCSE attainment. The researchers also undertook an international review of research on intervention strategies which had been shown to make a difference to reducing NEET.
Read more:
You’ll find the full document to download in our Resource section.
2 March 2012: This week’s work experience summit saw the government scrap one of the most contentious aspects of its work experience scheme for 16-24 year olds, namely the loss of benefits for anyone who dropped out after a week without due reason. It was scrapped for three reasons: it seemed a harsh sanction for a voluntary scheme; many employers were uncomfortable with it; it threatened to derail the government’s wider Work Programme. The government may have argued, as it did, that the sanction was rarely used (just 220 cases out of 34,200 last year), that it protected employers especially in small outlets and that, according to some polls last week, there was some public support for it but the sanction will now only be applied in cases of gross misconduct. Read more here.
29 Feb 2010: Commissioned under the White Paper last year, Sir Tim Wilson’s review of HE-business links was published this week. The remit was to come up with ideas to help ‘make the UK the best place in the world for university-industry collaboration’, a tall order at a difficult time. The current economic and political climate may have tempered some of the ambition, Sir Tim for instance was keen not to be seen calling for more funds or new forms of bureaucracy, but with an Advisory Board behind him of some 80+ members, there’s no shortage of recommendations. Read more here.
National Careers Week is a celebration of Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance. The purpose is to promote and share good quality careers resources amongst career professionals, job seekers, parents and students.
Read all about it here: http://www.nationalcareersweek.com/
The Children’s Society is launching its very first edition of The Good Childhood Report. It is the product of an ongoing research programme they began in 2005, in collaboration with theUniversity of York, to help understand what affects our children’s well-being. Read the full report here
19 Jan 2012: This week the latest set of labour market stats were published. They cover the period Sept-Nov 2011 and show that over that period, the UK unemployment total rose by 118,000 to 2.68m. The figure for young people, that’s 16-24 year olds, rose by 52,000 to 1.04m although that figure drops to 729,000 once the numbers in full-time education but looking for a job are taken out. The figures thus continue a depressing trend although in areas like claimant count, there is, as the Employment Minister recently suggested, some evidence of stabilisation. Read more here.
The YPLA recently gave briefings to all schools and academies in Suffolk on 16-19 Funding – copies of the presentation are available on hyperlinks on the YPLA website:
For GFE Colleges, SixthForm Colleges and Training Providers – http://www.ypla.gov.uk/colleges_and_providers/funding/16-19-funding-statement/
For Schools and Academies –
http://www.ypla.gov.uk/schools-and-local-authorities/funding/16-19-funding-statement/
Also, as mentioned during the briefing, please find below a link to advice on capital funding on the YPLA website:
For GFE, SixthForm Colleges and Training Providers - http://www.ypla.gov.uk/colleges_and_providers/capital/
For Schools -
http://www.ypla.gov.uk/schools-and-local-authorities/capital/
Academies -
http://www.ypla.gov.uk/academies/funding-and-finance/capital-funding/
31 Jan 2012: Ministers have cut the value of more than 3,100 vocational qualifications, ending their recognition in England’s school league tables. Courses such as a diploma in horse care can be worth the same as four GCSEs. The government says this has created “perverse incentives” for schools to offer them and boost their position.
So from 2014, only 70 “equivalents” will count in the tables’ headline GCSE measure and on a like-for-like basis with GCSEs. The move could make schools less likely to continue to offer such qualifications, and the government has instructed them to wait for its final list before changing their timetables for September 2012. Other examples of courses that will not be included in future league tables are the level 1 certificate in practical office skills; the BTec level 2 extended certificate in fish husbandry; and the level 2 certificate in nail technology services, all currently worth two GCSEs.
Some of those that will still count include a number of BTecs and OCR Nationals in performing arts, sport, health and social care, media, music and engineering. Education Secretary Michael Gove said the changes would extend opportunity because only qualifications which had demonstrated rigour, and had track records of taking young people into good jobs or university, would count in the future.
The list of recognised Voc GCSEs will be uploaded as soon as we have some clarity about it.
