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Primary schools should offer career advice, says Hughes
Released 21/07/2011
In his report on access to education out today, Lib Dem MP Simon Hughes urges schools to offer careers advice to pupils as young as 10
Simon Hughes by Tower Bridge in his constituency (Photo by Alex Folkes/Fishnik.com)
Simon Hughes, the government's advocate for access to education, has submitted a report to the prime minister today, setting out his recommendations on increasing access to education for all and improving careers advice in schools.
In today's ‘Hughes report', the Liberal Democrat MP recommended that all schools in England should encourage their poorest pupils to apply for university scholarships and that schools should offer careers advice to pupils from as young as primary school level.
Hughes was asked to help promote higher education to underprivileged pupils after Parliament voted to raise tuition fees in England last December.
Under the planned National Scholarship Programme, starting in 2012, students from homes with an income of less than £25,000 a year will be eligible for annual scholarships of around £3,000 - which are set to be allocated through universities. He recommends schools encourage pupils to apply for these scholarships from as young as age 15.
Careers improvements
The careers service in England has suffered from cuts recently, leaving critics worried some secondary pupils might only have access to career advice online.
In his report, Hughes has asked for better guidance for secondary pupils, including guaranteed face-to-face advice from experts and even recommended starting careers advice at primary school. He also suggested linking every school to at least one university.
Hughes recommends each school and college have one lead member of staff responsible for coordinating career and access activities and another member of staff responsible for ensuring maximum access to further and higher education, training and apprenticeships. He said there should also be regular training for these members of staff.
The MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark also said achievements on careers advice should be tracked by Ofsted.
Alumni networks
The report says schools should also build links with local businesses to help provide work experience placements for pupils before the compulsory school leaving age and that secondary schools and colleges should develop networks of their former students who are willing to be contacted by current students and should arrange for former students of their school or other schools in the area to come back into school and work with current students to advise and answer questions about their career, studies or life after school.
Hughes continued by recommending that schools supplement these alumni networks by drawing on national programmes such as Speakers for Schools, an organisation which finds inspiring and motivational speakers for schools and colleges, Future First, which helps schools bring former students back into schools, and by encouraging young people to use services such as Horse's Mouth, an online mentoring network.
Schools are also urged to have events dedicated to careers and further and higher education, which bring together careers professionals, parents and students to discuss career, education and training options starting at the latest in year nine.
Hughes also said schools should consider introducing graduation ceremonies in schools for all students when they leave compulsory education.
"It is never too early for people to start thinking about future careers and educational opportunities," he said. "Children in their last year of primary school can be inspired, and can form their first clear impressions of the world of work and further study."
Unions demand clarity
In the wake of the Hughes report, charity Unison is demanding the government come up with a clear, properly funded plan on how they will put in place their recommendation to guarantee a face-to-face careers service for all school pupils.
Jon Richards, Unison's senior national officer for higher education, said: "Young people are facing a future with difficult choices, with cuts to education, hikes in university fees and rising unemployment. If the government continues to cut careers services we will be left with a lost generation.
"The government is just playing lip-service to the need for a face-to-face careers service, when they are failing to put their money where their mouth is. Delivering much-needed, tailor-made careers advice must be properly planned for and funded.
"The Government has a responsibility to give the next generation a fair chance of a decent future."