ACT Introduction

ACT is a consortium of organisations that collaborate to deliver a programme of training for careers education and guidance over a wide eo raphical area.The partners in ACT are Canterbury Christ Church University College, VT Careers Management Ltd, CfBT Advice and Guidance and Include, Hampshire LEA, West Sussex Inspection and Advisory Service and Connexions Sussex Careers.

ACT welcomes applications from anyone with an interest in careers education and guidance provision. Participants come from all sectors of education including maintained schools, independent schools, special schools, pupil referral units and post-16 colleges.

Although the main aim is to provide good quality training for specialist careers teachers and personal advisers, non-specialists have also benefited from ACT courses.These have included heads of year and other pastoral staff as well as senior managers. With the introduction of Connexions, ACT is also relevant to a wider range of professionals.

The involvement of Canterbury Christ Church University College offers those who wish to the have opportunity to gain accreditation for their work.

Courses are free for most staff in schools, colleges, careers companies and Connexions services because central INSET funding is used to pay course costs, excluding travel. This only applies to institutions within the ACT consortium area. Other professionals may not be eligible for such support and therefore may be asked to pay the course fees. Your local ACT contact will be able to advise you and give you further details.

Registration fees will be paid for those undertaking accreditation.

The ACT partners also independently offer a programme of local courses in their own areas. Details of these are circulated separately.