To appraise Members on the current local provision of Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) in Central Bedfordshire, setting out the council’s statutory duties, the current national picture and proposing a series of recommendations/next steps for the future.

The Head of Partnerships and Community Engagement advised the Committee of the key areas of focus in relation to Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) within Central Bedfordshire, the statutory responsibilities of the local authority and schools, also highlighting the need to raise participation in the scheme due to the requirement for young people to be in education or training until the age of 18. Members were appraised of a recent successful event in relation to career options and that the department were seeking best practice examples in order to ensure young people in the region had the greatest level of opportunity when entering the work place.

In light of the report Members discussed the following in summary:-

·           Whether the system catered for all pupils, particularly those undertaking skills based subjects, with a need to lobby government regarding parity of esteem between academic and vocational subjects given that the national curriculum was primarily focussed on academic outcomes.

·           The benefits of work experience being made available to those students interested in practical based subjects, taking into account health and safety requirements, with the local authority setting an example as a large local employer and increasing the offer of work experience to students.

·           The disparity between feedback from pupils and schools regarding the offer of careers advice and guidance and the reasons behind why no local schools had achieved the kite mark as detailed within the report.

·           That there had been a positive response to the proposals with a commitment from schools to improve the offer in partnership with the local authority, acknowledging the need for the involvement of school governors in order to ensure an appropriate offer to students.

·           To consider offering careers advice and guidance to younger pupils prior to the selection of GCSE options and the importance of engaging with parents.

·           That the development of a new online portal would improve accessibility.

RECOMMENDED:-

1.     That the Executive Member liaise with the Secretary of State for Education in order to promote a more vocational based curriculum for those students who required it.

2.     That the Council considered more robust methods of facilitating and supporting schools to engage proactively with businesses in order to promote work experience for young people.

3.     That the local authority undertakes an annual youth audit of the IAG provision within Central Bedfordshire.