Introduction
What is a career? In its broadest sense it is one's pathway
through life. It need not necessarily be paid employment; being a
full-time parent, a life of religious devotion as a nun etc are all
'careers'.
Careers Education helps people develop the knowledge and skills
they need to make successful choices, manage transitions in
learning and move into work . Careers Guidance enables young people
to use the knowledge and skills they develop to make the decisions
about learning and work that are right for them. CEG is the
shorthand term for bringing together Careers Education and
Guidance.
Legal requirements
The Education Act 1977 required schools to provide a programme
of careers education from years 9-11. From September 2004 there was
also a requirement that careers education be delivered in years 7
and 8. Work related learning is now also a requirement for Key
Stage 4. The legislation did not say who should deliver the careers
education or how it should be delivered. However the document
'Careers Education and Guidance in England, A National Framework
11-19' produced by the DfES (2003), provides suggested learning
outcomes for Key Stage 3, Key Stage 4 and post 16. The three themes
that run throughout the student learning on careers education
are:
- Self-development - understand themselves and the influences on
them
- Career exploration - investigate opportunities in learning and
work
- Career management - make and adjust plans to manage change and
transition.
For a copy of this free document, please use the reference
DfES/0163/2003 and contact: DfES Publications, PO Box 5050,
Sherwood Park, Annesley, Nottingham NG15 ODJ tel 0845 60 222 60 fax
0845 60 333 60 email dfes@prolog.uk.com
CEG as part of the Personal Development Curriculum
Although Careers Education is already delivered in many schools
as part of the PSHE programme, there is increasing emphasis on
delivering Careers Education as part of an overall Personal
Development Curriculum. The DfES commissioned the Qualifications
Curriculum Authority to provide guidelines on a Personal
Development curriculum and this is downloadable from
www.qca.org.uk
The Personal Development Curriculum is comprised of:
- citizenship
- PSHE (personal, social and health education)
- religious education
- sex and relationship education
- careers education
- work-related learning
- drugs, alcohol and tobacco
- physical education.
Useful websites
- www.cegnet.co.uk Is the
website for the Careers Education Support Programme (CESP). This is
supported by the DfES and has a wealth of information, including a
generic Scheme of Work on Careers Education, mapped against the
learning outcomes of the National Framework.
- www.teachernet.gov.uk Is the
website for teachers which has a section on careers education, and
you can download the National Framework on it.
- www.nacgt.org.uk Is the
National Association of Careers Guidance Teachers website and the
professional body for those delivering careers education.
- www.icg-uk.org Is a
professional organisation for career guidance practitioners.
Local assistance with your careers education programme
This includes:
- Networking opportunities
- A programme of full day and half day training events
- Access to ACT (Assn for Careers Training) residential courses
An Annual Conference
- An Annual Resources Fair
- Newssheets and mailouts of promotional material
- Support in working towards an Investors in Careers quality
award
- A Careers Education Resources Centre
- Consultancy visits to the school to help with development of
the careers education programme
For more information, please contact
Denise McMillan,
Curriculum Coordinator CfBT Advice and Guidance,
dmcmillan@cfbt.com