We are now almost a year into the updated statutory guidance (see our summary here) and are not expecting major developments anytime soon.  This conference will rise to the ambitious challenge in the statutory guidance, while providing practical solutions to help ensure your programmes are impactful.   

Much of the attention over the past 12 months has been centred on the government’s vision for careers guidance:   

‘to improve careers advice in schools and colleges and to guarantee 2 weeks’ worth of work experience for every young person.’ (Page 5).  Benchmarks 6 and 8 have been strengthened to provide access for all learners to programme aspects such as personal guidance and work experience.  Benchmark 3 has greater rigour too, ensuring impact for ‘each and every’ learner.  With limited resources available in education, Careers Leaders are left with a challenge of whether to apply resources sparsely, giving everyone the same (equality), or to differentiate provision according to need (equity).   

The updated compass tool is now available, and early data helps us to understand that school, college and ITP average benchmark scores have naturally dropped significantly under the new guidance.  Career Leaders have access to a vast array of tools and resources to utilise but are often left confused about which to prioritise.  The conference will pay close attention to the Ofsted inspections under the new framework, helping Career Leaders to ‘pull together’ their provision, justify their approach and evidence the impact.     

The conference speakers will consider recent career related research, policy and practice with a focus on what career leaders and practitioners can do to keep pace whilst supporting their learners to consider implications for their future.  

 The conference will have keynote contributions from:  

• Professor Pete Robertson, Edinburgh Napier University & NICEC Chair  

• Jenny Beaumont, Deputy Director Complete-Careers LLP 

This conference is aimed at careers leaders/career professionals working in education.  Speakers will help attendees to make sense of priorities and resources in the context of their careers programme, the profession and most importantly, their learners.     

The following inputs will help career leaders/career professionals to reflect on their work:  

• Resourcing Career Guidance – best practice school/college example, PLUS insights from David Morgan, Chief Executive, Career Development Institute 

• 2 Weeks’ Worth of Work Experience for Each and Every Learner – best practice school/college example PLUS insights from Lesley Thain, Head of Education, Policy and Practice, Careers and Enterprise Company