Robbie Moore MP has given another speech in Parliament this month to stress the importance of having better career guidance in schools.
Currently, too many children are told that the route from sixth form to university is the best option for them if they want to be successful. Research shows that only 41% of 11–16-year-olds were told about apprenticeships or other vocational routes that maybe available to them at school, and just 21% of teachers said they would advise high-performing students to opt for an apprenticeship over a university.
Moore has backed a Private Members Bill in which Hundreds of thousands of pupils will be guaranteed careers advice from the age of 11. The Education (Careers Guidance in Schools) Bill presented to the House of Commons by the Member of Parliament for Workington requires all state-funded schools in England to provide such careers advice and support for children from year seven until they leave secondary school. The changes, which have Government support, are intended to come into force from September this year.
Moore used his comments in Parliament to call for a more pupil-centric advice system, suggesting that more interaction between the education sector and business sector should take place, so that students can be fully informed of range of career options which exist, and the best route to get there. Moore reiterated that the university route is not for everyone and that too often, this was the only route which was often recommended for students at school. In his speech Moore mentioned how local Manufacturing, Engineering and Tech businesses are suffering from a skills shortage, and that we need more young people to know just how greater career individuals can have by exploring vocational routes.
Robbie Moore MP said: “Careers guidance plays a vital role in ensuring local young people know the full range of choices available to them throughout their education. Whether that be going on to a Further Education College, entering an apprenticeship, a training programme or going to University. Too often, the vocational and technical skills job market are not promoted enough as a great option, with too much emphasis on more academic routes, and of course, university isn’t for everyone.
“The standard of careers guidance in schools should not be a postcode lottery. Good careers advice must be clearly focused on the best interests of the children. The business sector can play a huge part in providing careers advice as well, and we need to see more interaction in the education sector with the business community to help inform our young children of the range of career options available to them.
There is great work being done in Parliament to help with this, and I will continue to bang the drum for better Careers Guidance so our local businesses get the skilled workforce they need to help our local economy.”
Education minister Alex Burghart said: “The Government had further reforms planned for careers advice and skills. We want to make sure that young people in all settings, regardless of their backgrounds, get access to high quality careers education and that is what our reforms are going to do because we want to level up opportunity.”
“The reforms set out in our Skills for Jobs white paper will give genuine choice between high quality technical and academic routes and it is vital that everyone has access to this high quality careers guidance, of the highest standards, so they are well-informed about what will happen after.”
