‘Skills for Jobs: Lifelong Learning for Opportunity and Growth’. Gov. white paper
Government Skills White Paper puts increased emphasis on developing a relationship between education and businesses to provide an effective careers programme for young people.
In January, the UK Government released a white paper titled: ‘Skills for Jobs: Lifelong Learning for Opportunity and Growth’. One of the key takeaway points from this paper is ‘putting employers at the heart of post-16 skills’ with the importance of tailoring skills to local skills needs being highlighted.
When specifically referring to career education in schools, the papers says that now over 80% of schools and colleges are using Gatsby Benchmarks. The Gatsby Benchmarks were first established as part of the careers strategy launched in December 2017.
The paper also specifically references the importance of the ‘Baker Clause’ when discussing that students need more information about apprenticeships. From a Youth Employment UK survey, the white paper highlights that only 4% of young people start an apprenticeship after GCSEs, and that far fewer pupils in year 9 and 10 had spoken about technical choices compared to academic routes. As explained in the paper, the Baker Clause ‘requires schools to provide opportunities for every pupil, including those with special educational needs and disabilities, to meet apprenticeship providers and learn about technical education options.’ There are plans to enforce the Baker Clause using a three-point-plan, these are:
- ‘a new minimum requirement about who is to be given access to which pupils and when;
- Tougher formal action against non-compliance;
- And government-funded career support for schools to be made conditional on Baker Clause compliance.’
As well as these changes, the paper outlines that schools will have to provide careers learning too students from year 7 upwards, not only for older students as previously required.
The paper continues to highlight the importance they put on careers in school and college by saying ‘we want careers education and guidance to be embedded in the life of every school and college’. To do this they put emphasis on working with both the education sector and business to develop effective careers programmes to support young people in understanding modern workplaces and to compete in today’s labour market.
Overall, the skills white paper highlights the importance for school students to have direct contact with employers to develop their route when leaving school. It is clear that the government what career education to encompass all options available to school-leavers, and not solely shine a light on academic routes.
References:
- Skills for Jobs: Lifelong Learning for Opportunity and Growth (publishing.service.gov.uk)
- Implementing the Gatsby benchmarks (goodcareerguidance.org.uk)