by Janet Hutchinson MA PGCE MA
As an ex teacher and now career education specialist the positive flow of white papers in recent weeks has inspired me to write this blog, as whilst working to solve problems created by others is important, I am a strong believer in prevention being better than cure. As a growing emphasis on primary health care in the NHS grows, I would like the DfE and education to focus on this too.
Primary Careers work is crucial if the government is to ensure the next generation of young people grow up ready to contribute and succeed in the global employment market.
Since 2017 the Career Mark Primary Award has been achieved by schools around England. Complete Careers LLP works with primary schools to ensure career development learning begins as early as possible in the school curriculum. This ensures learners broaden their horizons, see outside their local environments, are engaged and motivated. They learn the skills, knowledge and attitudes to identify and access appropriate learning pathways. This will support success in the 21st century world of work. This government must prioritise and maintain this early years work.
Whilst the following shows the governments strong commitment to those in secondary education and entering the world of work, it is crucial that primary work is prioritised now. Primary careers work has been being successfully developed over the last few years, we must build on the momentum ensuring it is effectively supported via the outcomes of the curriculum review and any career education strategy.
In Baroness Smith’s keynote address to the Association of Colleges, 12 November 2024 she said: “We are introducing a Youth Guarantee, which will provide tailored support to 18 to 21 year olds who need it. Helping more young people to make the most of local education, training and employment support and opportunities.” They will support educational establishments across England to deliver high quality careers programmes and drive continuous improvement in line with the Gatsby Benchmarks, including primary schools, secondary schools, colleges, special schools, alternative provision settings and Independent Training Providers (ITPs). Raising awareness, and increasing take-up, of vocational and technical options (Apprenticeships, T Levels and Higher Technical Qualifications) promoting parity of esteem with academic routes.
More detail about how primaries are to be supported to deliver career learning as a central part of the curriculum is essential. Good will and targeted programmes can have an impact but to ensure all learners are entitled and supported to gain the knowledge, skills and attitudes they need to become successful career planners education should be expected to deliver learning based around such professionally developed tools as the Career Development Institute’s Framework. This identifies 6 areas of learning outcomes covering from Early Years foundation study to the end of state supported education.
I recently attended a celebration event of the CEC funded initiative Start Small Dream Big in Gainsborough, led by Alex Nightingale Operational Hub Lead – Skills Delivery Manager of the Greater Lincolnshire Careers Hub. The event highlighted good primary career development work, but the key question was, how can this be effectively sustained with project funding due to expire in spring 2025? Staff from the DfE were present and one participant suggested the only sure way was for the DfE to make it a requirement. Participants greeted this suggestion with a round of applause. The Welsh government has already introduced a statutory careers and work related curriculum for 3-16 year olds it would be good if the DfE could follow this example.
As well as contributing to this programme Complete Careers must be creative to find funding to support good practice primary school career programmes. Some Multi academy trusts have the strategic vision to support their primary schools to achieve the Career Mark Primary Award. Ormiston Academies Trust (OAT) exemplifies a strong and sustained commitment to career development work in primary schools. They ensure all its schools achieve external accreditation for career learning excellence initially, while subsequently embedding robust internal processes to maintain and continuously improve these high standards. This approach reflects OAT’s dedication to balancing high-quality outcomes with the effective use of resources ensuring that career education remains integral to the curriculum across its primary schools.
In the East Riding of Yorkshire, the Dogger Bank Wind Farm through the energy provider SSE is funding support to develop primary career work and pays for a first accrediting of good practice of the nationally endorsed Career Mark Primary Award as well as providing additional funding to develop career education in primary schools.
Through the vision, drive and commitment of Saj Rauf Participation Officer (Careers, IAG, Destinations & NEET) Luton Council – Careers Hub is also supporting a pilot of Luton Primary schools towards achieving the nationally endorsed Career Mark Primary Award. Other individual schools and trusts are also engaging, which is excellent, though increasing numbers of schools cannot afford to fund the accreditation of their good practice.
At Complete Careers we believe action needs to be taken sooner rather than later by the DfE and others to ensure all young people from the start of their education benefit from career learning as a central part of their curriculum. This should improve motivation and raise achievement helping to ‘Get Britain working’ effectively in the future. It should also reduce a need in the future to focus on a ‘cure’ as the ‘blight’ will not occur.
Complete Careers recognises the excellent contribution made to career development work by STEM learning initiatives. While this is important, we must remember the contribution of creativity and the Arts to skill development and the economy. Therefore STEAM, not STEM. The Career Mark Primary Award also recognises that career development work is #somuchmorethantalkingabout jobs. Learners need to develop the confidence, understanding and capabilities to be self-aware and effective self-managers. Empowering them to make successful transitions through learning and life to become productive members of society.
So, to those with power and influence please lobby to ensure this government to take their chance to support prevention as well as cure for all our young people to help make Britain Great in a 21st Century global economy.
Janet Hutchinson
Partner
Complete-Careers LLP