Legal duty for schools to provide independent careers guidance

Media release

The long awaited Statutory Guidance for schools concerning Career Guidance has now been published.

Mark Bowman, Chief Executive of Inspira, (formerly Connexions Cumbria) says,” the provision of impartial Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) for all young people is  essential to  help young people make a positive  transition from school into the workforce, be that via an apprenticeship, college or university.”

With changes in government funding, from 1st of September 2012, under section 29 of the Education Act 2011, all schools will have a legal duty to provide independent careers guidance for students in school years 9-11.

John Hayes, Minister of State for Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning said, “schools will be expected to work in partnership with external and expert careers guidance providers, as appropriate, to ensure pupils get good advice on the full range of post-16 options.”

As the main deliverer of the National Careers Service in Cumbria, Inspira  also recently won the Cumbria County Council contract to deliver targeted* IAG  from the 1st of April through to 31st March 2014. Inspira has also developed a portfolio of IAG products for purchase by schools in the area  and is already working with a number of schools in Cumbria to help ensure they meet their statutory duty.

*Young people aged 11-19 years and up to 24 who are care leavers, teenage parents and/or are disabled.

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Editor Notes:

Inspira, is an award winning, Cumbrian based social enterprise company with a national reputation. Formerly Connexions Cumbria, Inspira is a delivery-based provider of youth and adult services and the leading provider of Information, Advice and Guidance in Cumbria.