to gain experience of a vocational area through collaborative provision for those aged 14 to 16. They help adults to consider up-skilling or re-skilling though open days, taster sessions and outreach programmes and publish information about the destinations and achievements of college graduates. Not only are colleges effective in delivering supportive information, advice and guidance to prospective students, they support existing students through specialist staff, to help them research potential careers and make effective choices about further education or employment. Colleges build links with local employers through visits, talks and project work to help inform young people about the nature of work opportunities; and they seek to identify and promote opportunities for students to progress to apprenticeships. It is clear that colleges provide robust services to prospective and existing learners. ‘Someone like me’ However, if information, advice and guidance are to become even more effective, a number of improvements should be made. Information needs to be interpreted better. We agree that well- informed customers are a key part of effective markets, and that the education market requires students, employers and parents to have ready access to the right information to support their choices. The simple provision of summary information is not enough, however. People need to know how average figures might apply to ‘someone like me’. People need face-to-face advice. We value the online and telephone services offered by learndirect and Next Step and see the web as having considerable potential to make data easily accessible. Most people, however, including those who are technologically sophisticated, need the added support of face-to-face contact with a specialist to make the most of available information. School pupils need impartial guidance, and the evidence is that schools with sixth forms frequently withhold information from pupils in order to influence their choices. Adults too need impartial guidance, and care should be taken to ensure that information about the costs and benefits is supplied. Careers guidance is a professional role.

There is a role for teachers in advising students about academic progression and the requirements of educational programmes. Careers guidance is, however, a distinct professional role and all young people should have guaranteed access to a qualified adviser. As the participation age increases to 18, so should the entitlement to face-to-face support from a qualified adviser. John Hayes, Minister of State for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning, clearly understands this point. He said at the Institute for Career Guidance conference last year:

We ask too much of our teachers when we expect them to be excellent pedagogues and professional careers advisers. So too many schools are not equipped to provide young people with a full understanding of the options open to them. As a result, the ambitions of some are prematurely limited.

Colleges can be local hubs for guidance services. They are well placed to bring together the National Careers Service, Jobcentre Plus and their own advisers to offer a one-stop shop for adults and young people needing advice and guidance in relation to careers. Many colleges have already formed such partnerships and are taking the lead in promoting a collaborative approach to information, advice and guidance. FE colleges are clearly making the most of their resources and at the heart of all of their missions is the drive to see learners progress. However, if colleges are to continue to succeed in their objectives then we need to encourage greater collaboration across schools, local authorities, employers and government agencies. We believe that ensuring all school pupils have access to face-to-face careers guidance is a crucial component to progression. In a time of economic challenge, face-to-face careers guidance is pivotal to ensuring success.

Lynne Sedgmore is Executive Director of the 157 Group of large further education colleges. Information is not enough: making the case for professional careers guidance is available from www.157group.co.uk

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Volume 23, Number 3 Spring 2012

ISSN: 0955-2308 Designed and typeset by

Prestige Colour Solutions Limited, Leicester Printed in Great Britain by

The Russell Press, Nottingham

SPRING 2012 ADULTS LEARNING 47