What Ofsted can tell you about the quality of careers advice in your child’s school or college
As a parent or carer, you want to know how good the careers advice is in your child’s school or college. The school or college website is a good place to start. Every school and college is expected to publish information about their careers programme, including the name of their Careers Leader who manages the programme.
The latest full Ofsted inspection report, especially if it is recent, may provide further information.
How Ofsted inspects careers advice and support
Since September 2019, the attention given to careers in Ofsted inspections has been strengthened.
Ofsted inspects schools and colleges in England on behalf of the government. You can view the latest inspection documents at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/education-inspection-framework.
When reviewing the personal development of pupils, the Independent Schools Inspectorate (https://www.isi.net/) evaluates the extent to which the school helps pupils to acquire the personal skills and resources to prepare them for the next stage of their lives and to be able to make informed choices about their future.
The other Home Nations also have their own education inspectorates:
Scotland: https://education.gov.scot/education-scotland/inspection-reports
Wales: https://www.estyn.gov.wales/language
Northern Ireland: https://www.etini.gov.uk/
When reviewing the Quality of Education, inspectors look for evidence that “learners are ready for the next stage of education, employment or training. Where relevant, they gain qualifications that allow them to go on to destinations that meet their interests, aspirations and the intention of their course of study”.
Inspectors also evaluate the Personal Development of pupils. They will judge the extent to which “at each stage of education, the provider prepares learners for future success in their next steps”.
The judgement inspectors make about the Leadership and Management of the school includes much that is implicitly related to careers including the statement that they will evaluate the extent to which “leaders engage effectively with learners and others in their community, including – where relevant – parents, carers, employers and local services”.
Ofsted has shown long-standing support for home-school partnership:
“A survey was conducted between September 2006 and February 2007 to evaluate how schools involved parents and carers in the education of children and young people and how effective this involvement was. All the schools in the survey valued parents’ and carers’ involvement, but the best schools made them active partners. The best schools demonstrated versatility, flexibility and determination in their efforts to engage with parents and carers.” (https://dera.ioe.ac.uk/7093/1/Parents,%20carers%20and%20schools%20(PDF%20format).pdf)
As a parent or carer, you should expect your child’s school or college to:
- Keep you well-informed about relevant events in the careers programme
- Show you how and where to access up-to-date sources of career and labour market information
- Support you in developing the confidence and skills you need to help your child make choices and plans about their future
- Survey you about your satisfaction with the careers provision.
Ofsted uses a four-point grading scale: outstanding, good, requires improvement, inadequate. This scale is used for making the overall judgement on school or college effectiveness and for the four specific judgements: the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management. The criteria for the award of each grade are subdivided into intent, implementation and impact. For example, under impact in the quality of education judgement, to be awarded good or outstanding, schools must demonstrate that:
“Pupils are ready for the next stage of education, employment or training. They have the knowledge and skills they need and, where relevant, they gain qualifications that allow them to go on to destinations that meet their interests and aspirations and the intention of their course of study. Pupils with SEND achieve the best possible outcomes”.
Schools offering sixth form provision are expected to meet additional criteria related to work experience or industrial placements, non-qualification activities and “the effectiveness of high-quality impartial careers guidance in enabling all students to make progress and move on to a higher level of qualification, employment or further training when they are ready to do so” (p.83 of the School Inspection Handbook).
For more information on how Ofsted grades schools in routine inspections, consult the School Inspection Handbook (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/843108/School_inspection_handbook_-_section_5.pdf) or the FE and Skills Inspection Handbook (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/822103/Further_education_and_skills_handbook_July_2019.pdf).
How else do schools and colleges review the quality of their careers programmes
Inspection is not the only way that schools review and evaluate their careers programmes:
Many schools (and some Academy Trusts) have a policy on careers – this sets out the guiding principles that underpin their strategy and plans. The Careers Leader in the school or college is expected to draw up an annual plan with some goals that support the organisation’s overall improvement priorities. This plan is internally evaluated
All schools and colleges are expected to achieve the Gatsby benchmarks of good practice in career guidance by the end of 2020 (https://www.gatsby.org.uk/education/focus-areas/good-career-guidance). Many are completing the online Compass+ tool published by the Careers & Enterprise Company to help them monitor and plan their progress (https://www.careersandenterprise.co.uk/schools-colleges/compass-plus)
Schools and colleges can seek external validation of the quality of their careers provision (including confirmation of their achievement of the Gatsby benchmarks) by achieving the Quality in Careers Standard (http://www.qualityincareers.org.uk/). Many colleges seek accreditation of their career guidance provision through the matrix Standard (https://matrixstandard.com/).
What you can do
Ofsted publishes a general leaflet for parents on what to expect and what they can do when their child’s school is about to be inspected (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-inspections-a-guide-for-parents).
You can express your views to Ofsted on your child’s school at any time by completing Parent View (https://parentview.ofsted.gov.uk/), an online questionnaire. Ofsted uses the information you provide as part of its risk assessment of the school. During an inspection, you may also get a chance to meet inspectors.
The most useful thing you can do is to not wait for an inspection but to get in touch with your child’s school directly if you need information or advice about any matters relating to your child’s career. Your child’s form teacher will always be willing to answer questions about your child’s progress.
You can raise general concerns about the school’s careers provision by contacting governors (for example, a parent governor or the link governor for careers), the Parents Council or PTA.
All schools and colleges have a Careers Leader who leads on careers and will be pleased to answer your questions. This is also the person to contact if you would like to help in developing the careers programme and to benefit other parents’ children besides your own.
© Anthony Barnes December 2019
