This week’s publication of the guidance comes as part of a broader government shift towards more rigorous career planning support, as outlined in its inspiration vision statement, published in September 2013.

Announcing the guidance in the Commons, Skills Minister Matthew Hancock said: “Building links between the worlds of education and work is a vital part of our reforms and I can announce to the House today that we are publishing the revised statutory guidance for schools on careers guidance and inspiration.”

The document says: “The statutory duty requires governing bodies to ensure that all registered pupils at the school are provided with independent careers guidance from year eight (12 to 13-year-olds) to year 13 (17 to 18-year-olds).

The governing body must ensure that the independent careers management provided is presented in an impartial manner, includes information on the range of education or training options, including apprenticeships and other vocational pathways [and] is guidance that the person giving it considers will promote the best interests of the pupils to whom it is given.”

“We welcome the move as it gives schools, the local authorities and providers clarity regarding responsibility,” says Mark Bowman, CE of Inspira.  “As an organisation we have years of experience in career guidance and personal development programmes which equip young people for the world of work. We know how important it is to have impartial advice which is centred on the young person.”

With calls from Government for schools to forge closer links with employers, organisations like Inspira can make the path easier.

“We are in a position to provide the mechanism to build relationships between schools, colleges and local companies,” continues Mr Bowman. “Since the Statutory Duty changed in 2012 we’ve had considerable success with our Preparation for Life programme which does exactly what Government is asking for in this new guidance – provide impartial careers management and raise the aspirations of young people through real life exposure to employers and careers of the future.”

Inspira is a social enterprise with an established record for delivering professional career management and effective youth development programmes for government, local authorities, community organisations and employers.

Click here for the publication.