The report calls for careers IAG to be made a compulsory part of personal, social and health education lessons and for this inclusion in classroom lessons to be assessed by OFSTED. Supported by the ETB’s Careers Advisory Panel, the paper highlights the fact that Scotland has a 100% per cent target to provide school leavers with at least one careers interview, and Wales a 90% target, whilst in Northern Ireland over 70% of school leavers are guaranteed an interview. In England, by contrast, there is no target and latest estimates indicated that approximately 60% of students may be missing out. The report advocates a comprehensive all-age careers service accessible by all children and young people as well as their teachers, parents and carers, to address this issue. It also recommends careers IAG be available to all children from age nine upwards and their parents/ carers (whom have been identified as the main influencers), so as to combat the early-age gender stereotyping which often discourages young women and girls from taking important science, technology, engineering and mathematic (STEM) subjects. Paul Jackson, Chief Executive of the ETB, said: “Every school-leaver has the right to accurate and informed careers information, particularly in the current economic climate in which young people are really struggling to find work. At present careers education is a non-compulsory part of personal, social and health education and the ETB believes this needs to change. We are also advocating a comprehensive all age service across the UK, which can be accessed by parents and carers as well as young people themselves.”
