Careers Strategy and Careers

Leadership: implications for schools

and colleges

David Andrews, Independent CEIAG Consultant

Wednesday 11 July 2018

C&K Careers

Careers strategy (DfE, December 2017)

from January 2018

all schools and colleges expected to use the Gatsby benchmarks to

review and improve careers provision

all schools and colleges strongly recommended to work towards the

Quality in Careers Standard

by September 2018

schools and colleges expected to publish details of their careers

programmes to young people and their parents

every school and college should have a named careers leader

CEC to co-ordinate support for schools and colleges across all eight

benchmarks

investment fund of £5m, to support the most disadvantaged pupils

(£2.5m support personal career guidance)

20 ‘Careers Hubs’ across the country, each supported by

a Gatsby Co-ordinator from the CEC

Careers strategy (DfE, December 2017)

during 2018 and 2019

training for careers leaders available and funded for 500 schools and

colleges

improved destination data to be made available

new approaches to careers provision to be tested for:

for encouraging young people, especially girls, to consider STEM jobs

in primary schools

for young people who are disadvantaged or vulnerable, e.g. with SEND

by the end of 2020

schools should offer every young person seven encounters with

employers – at least one a year from Y7 to Y13

colleges should offer every learner at least two meaningful

encounters with an employer each year – at least one should be

related to their field of study

new, improved NCS website

Technical and Further Education Act 2017

Schools must ensure that there is an opportunity

for a range of education and training providers to

talk to pupils from Y8 to Y13 about approved

technical education qualifications and

apprenticeships.

[effective from January 2018]

Statutory guidance for schools(DfE, January 2018)

legal requirements (‘must’) and detailed advice

(‘should’) on all 8 benchmarks

covers the duties to secure access to independent

careers guidance and to provide access for

providers of technical education and

apprenticeships

Careers Leader – name and contact details on

school’s website by September 2018

Guidance for colleges(DfE, February 2018)

applies to all FE and sixth form colleges and to all

learners up to age 18

[other providers of post-16 education and training

are encouraged to follow the guidance]

covers the requirements to secure access to

independent careers guidance and to provide a wide

range of careers reference materials

detailed advice on all 8 Gatsby benchmarks

Careers Leader or Careers Leadership team

Careers strategy for England:

what’s missing?

Re-instating the statutory duty to provide

careers education, and extending the

requirement to age 18

Capacity-building funding for schools and

colleges

The role of teachers in careers

Tutorial roles

Pastoral support

Teaching roles

Subject teacher

Careers teacher

Leadership roles

Middle leader (Careers Leader)

Senior leader

(Deputy Head or Assistant Head i/c Careers)

Roles in schools

Link Governor Advocate for careers

Support and challenge

Senior Leader Overall responsibility for careers

Line manager for Careers

Leader

assistant head or

deputy head

Careers Leader Day-to-day leadership and

management

Middle leader

teacher, careers

adviser,

other professional

Careers

Administrator

More routine organisation and

administration

support staff

Careers leader Benefits Potential risks

Middle leader, with

senior leader support

Dedicated role, with link

to SLT

Lack of planning for

succession

Senior leader SLT attention Lack of time to devote

to the role

Outsourced Expertise Not in school all the time

Not located in school’s

management structures

Distributed leadership Increased capacity Lack of coherence

MAT-wide post Sharing of resources

and practice

Insufficient time in

individual schools

Support staff/admin role

(Careers Co-ordinator)

Less expensive,

releases teacher

Not well placed for

leadership functions

Careers leaders: models (schools)

Careers leadership in colleges

Tasks similar

(with wording amended to reflect FE context)

Models different e.g. more likely to have a

‘careers leadership team’ than a single post of

careers leader

A distributed approach to operational leadership

but strategic leadership role in SLT often missing

Conditions for successful careers leadership

Clarity of roles

Authority and power

Time and resources (including administrative

support)

Expertise

CPD for Careers Leaders

What’s needed?

Short, non-accredited, introductory courses

Longer courses, which offer the opportunity to gain a

qualification

(HE awards; work-based; higher apprenticeship)

Communities of practice

Careers strategy (Gatsby and CEC)

Understanding the role of Careers Leader

Careers Leader Training programme

nationally-funded plus bursaries

careers hubs to provide a support network

The Careers Strategy:

what’s in place; what do you need to do?

1. Using the Gatsby benchmarks

2. Quality in Careers Standard

3. Publishing details of careers programme

4. Named careers leader

5. Training for careers leader

6. Meaningful encounters with employers:

each year, every student