1. For the last decade the effect of government policy has been to limit the access that English school pupils have had to 1 to 1 #CareersAdvice sessions with a careers advisor. The current crisis makes it urgent that we reverse that, and here’s why: @CommonsEd @GavinWilliamson

2. We need professional careers advisors back in our secondary schools, to be available on an ongoing basis, to so that students are able to:

3. Ask the questions on their minds about the educational & career choices they face. Most 15/16/17 yr olds are still unsure of what choices to make & what career path to follow, regardless of the quantity of information pouring out at them online.

4. Have 1 to 1 time out to talk through, make + feel secure about educational choices which are their early career-path choices - for GCSE, A Level+other Level 3 subjects/apprenticeship/university/employment.

5. Have time to explore + be guided to reliable, unbiased sources of information, + be provided with the mental framework/map of the world of work, allowing them to understand their own context, individual situation + likely success of their plans.

6. Be told about + look at sources of LMI on where opportunities for employment are really likely to arise in the future world of employment, + to then develop realistic rather than fantasy or unattainable career goals (a pervasive problem for this age group).

7. Understand + audit their personal strengths + skills, + how these enable individuals to succeed in their working lives.

8. Identify gaps in their employability or university application profile, + make plans to address them.

9. Know how to relate their needs + wants to the job market, both current + future. Understand the importance of developing #technologyskills on an ongoing basis.

10. Raise concerns + misunderstandings. Have potential mistakes with subject, course + #careerchoices corrected before the consequences materialise or worsen.

11. Make a personal career plan, with action points, + be encouraged over a period of time to realise their goals. Able students from less advantaged backgrounds usually need special encouragement/coaching/mentoring, over several guidance sessions.

12. Be mentored in actually finding + securing work experience, apprenticeships, part time jobs, FE or work-based learning + university places.

13. This includes actual on the spot help with approaching employers + educational institutions,
+ online applications, CV, Assessment Centre, online test + interview preparation.

14. Students who are provided with the simple intervention of a #CareerGuidance appointment with a professional careers advisor at the point when they are making their choices for the future will have enhanced confidence, direction + motivation.

15. They’ll be able to avoid costly educational mistakes. Unfruitful subject provision in sixth form + colleges will be reduced (e.g. more IT/Computer Science + fewer Criminology A Levels?). School leavers will be employable with economically-productive instead of low-grade jobs.

16. Careers Advisors also:

17. Work in partnership with staff who may be careers leaders, subject teachers, SEND staff, pastoral support + others, help coordinate careers education programmes for year groups with the 1 to 1 career guidance provision for individuals.

18. Simply having careers leaders in school who try their best to coordinate careers education programmes does not compensate for depriving students of 1 to 1 #careerguidance/coaching time, with a knowledgeable #careersadviser.

19. The last 10 years of policy on careers provision in English state secondary schools has failed. Our students need to be given the guidance they need to get into productive work. It has to be individual - like medical appointments.

20. This is a win/win. If we want it.
@educationgovuk @GuardianEdu @tele_education @tes @bbceducation @FinancialTimes @CBI_ES @CareersEngland @CareerEnt @GillianKeegan @pigironjoe @DeirdreTalks @CareersDefender