Nic Dakin MP’s Ten Minute Rule Bill on careers advice and access to schools

MP to take action against Government’s shelved careers advice plans with the ‘Careers Advice (Access to Schools) Bill’

Nic Dakin MP is set to announce a Bill in Parliament on Tuesday, 28 February to ensure that school pupils are provided with high quality, impartial careers advice on all post-16 options available to them. The move from the MP comes after the Government appears to have shelved plans for new legislation which requires schools to allow other providers of education and training to talk to their pupils about the range of opportunities open to them.

The Ten Minute Rule Bill, called the ‘Careers Advice (Access to Schools) Bill’, will require schools in England to provide access to their premises and pupils to post-16 education establishments and others offering guidance on careers, training and courses. The Bill is supported by the Association of Colleges (AoC) and its members.

Careers advice is currently not working for many young people who are unaware of all the choices available to them at the age of 16, such as apprenticeships, technical education and training. Too many are encouraged to stay in the school sixth form without appreciating that there are other high quality options with colleges and other training providers. A key reason for this is that schools often don’t allow colleges and training providers into the school to meet with and talk to young people. 

Nic Dakin MP, said: “Careers advice and guidance has been inadequate for too long. The Government’s recent Industrial Strategy Green Paper identifies some of the challenges around careers advice and if the country is to be a success post-Brexit it is essential that we tackle this issue now. We have to ensure that all schools are offering the best possible careers advice by allowing other education providers to access their premises and inform pupils about all of the options for education and training post-16, whether academic, vocational or technical.”

David Hughes, Chief Executive of the Association of Colleges (AoC), said: “It is imperative that young people are fully aware of the exciting range of options they have at the age of 16. Too many young people do not learn about their options and miss out on the best pathway for them. Simply requiring access for colleges and training providers will help address this, alongside a concerted effort to provide careers education from a much earlier age. More informed choices will result in more young people being motivated to make progress in learning and finding the best routes into work.”