Education - December 2009
With the publication of: “Quality, Choice and Aspirations: A strategy for young people’s information, advice and guidance” the DCSF is hoping to move on from the past negative images of careers advice in schools and colleges.
The strategy - which aims to “modernise IAG and careers education to make it accessible for today’s generation of young people” - places not only schools and parents at the heart of careers advice, but also looks at the role businesses can play in giving young people the experiences they need in order to make informed decisions on their qualifications and career choices.
In the strategy introduction, Ed Balls, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families places schools and parents firmly at the heart of providing effective IAG. He says: “Many people have anecdotal experiences of poor careers advice and often say if they had their chance again they would have done something different. I want this generation of young people to be able to look back and say their careers advice and guidance was relevant and gave them informed options.”
In Buckinghamshire, consortia are working closely with Connexions to provide IAG to potential Diploma learners and current learners. According to Natalie Ellis, 14-19 Entitlement Co-ordinator for Connexions Buckinghamshire, they provide IAG “by discussing and challenging the learner’s individual aspirations, interests and learning style, to enable them to make their most appropriate option choices”.
Activities organised or planned in partnership with Connexions Buckinghamshire include a spoof podcast on the website (www.connexionsbucks.org.uk), events held at Aylesbury College for prospective Hospitality Diploma learners, visits by Connexions advisors to schools and colleges and one-to-one interviews. An event is already planned for January 2010 for students, parents and carers to increase their awareness.
Feedback from schools and employers is increasingly suggesting that the key to careers advisors offering unbiased and effective advice about the hospitality industry is helping them to really understand the sector and the range of roles available.
For Geoff Booth, providing good IAG for the Diploma in Hospitality is all about helping teachers, Connexions and head teachers to get a good understanding of just what is available in the hospitality industry. He says: “We believe that the real push is to get teachers, Connexions advisors and heads to visit employers so they can familiarise themselves with the breadth of industry roles.
“We need to get rid of this image of hospitality being a low level, underpaid job. If teachers get into industry they can talk to real employees who have been quickly promoted to great, rewarding roles where they’re given a lot of responsibility.”
The strategy places a lot of emphasis on inspiring young people and encouraging social mobility. This is where the passion of those working and teaching in hospitality can really come into their own. Geoff Booth says: “It’s all about setting yourself a goal and heading for it. Young people don’t just look for a job at entry level and expect to stay there for the rest of their working lives, they don’t settle for the first job, they want so much more.”
The Diploma Support website has an IAG community, a useful forum for discussion and support for everyone helping young people to make decisions about their choices at 14-19. if you want to talk about ideas, share resources and be part of an online professional network, join the IAG community at www.diploma-suuport.org/communities/iag
26.11.2009