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New framework for careers, employability and enterprise to help schools prepare young people to achieve their potential

Young people leaving schools today face an uncertain future, where the only guarantee is that the job market will keep changing. It is vital that they leave school equipped to make the most of the opportunities available to them for future study and employment. They need the knowledge, skills and confidence to make informed choices, and manage transitions to succeed in learning and work. The Careers Framework has been designed to help schools manage this important aspect of the curriculum.

Inspired by The Careers Benchmarks Pilot currently taking place in the North East LEP area, The Careers Framework provides practical support in relation to six of the benchmarks. The Careers Benchmarks Pilot is a joint project by the North East LEP and the Gatsby Foundation.

Four years ago, the Government transferred responsibility for career guidance from local authorities to schools themselves, but international evidence shows that an unstructured interventions, and a single week of work experience is not enough. Young people also need access to a programme of career education embedded in the curriculum.

The Career Development Institute (CDI), which represents careers teachers and careers advisers throughout the UK, has launched this revised and updated Framework to help schools identify the knowledge, skills and qualities pupils need to acquire and develop. Concise and easy to use, the Framework provides ideas and activities across each of the 17 areas of learning at KS2; KS3; KS4 and 16-19. The Framework, which is free, and supporting materials can be downloaded from the CDI website.

Speaking at the CDI’s Annual Conference in 2015, the newly elected President Virginia Isaac, said: “Young people need high quality careers support to help set them on the road to a fulfilling working life. Schools and colleges are at the heart of putting that in place and work with other partners, including employers, universities, apprenticeship providers and professional career advisers, to contribute practical experiences, inspiration, information, advice and guidance. For all those efforts to be effective, the activities need to be pulled together in a coherent and carefully planned programme of careers, employability and enterprise education, with explicit learning outcomes.”

She went on to say “The CDI is proud to offer this new Framework to support schools, colleges and others as they plan, review and develop their career programmes. Importantly, the Framework provides practical support in relation six of the eight Gatsby Benchmarks, which are fast becoming a key organising principle in the delivery CEIAG in schools and colleges. The final point to emphasise of course is that to help young people make informed and realistic decisions, career education must be complemented by access to timely and impartial information, advice and guidance, provided by qualified career advisers.”

For more information, visit www.thecdi.net