It should not be unnecessarily difficult for students to access information about their future
2 min read
Ahead of his debate, Labour MP Nic Dakin writes about the importance of providers of technical and vocational education being able to advise students.
Not too long ago when I was Principal of John Leggott College in Scunthorpe things may not have been perfect in relation to Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance but they were certainly a lot better than they are now.
The purpose of my Ten Minute Rule Bill is to highlight the urgent need for action to be taken to ensure young people have access to the information to make the best decisions about their own futures.
Too many schools with sixth forms are making it unnecessarily difficult for colleges and other post-16 providers to get into their schools and talk to students about the options available to them. This just isn't right.
The Skills Minister, Robert Halfon, recently recounted a situation where high performing apprentices were offering to go back into schools to talk about their experiences and the schools refused to let them in. Small wonder then that awareness about apprenticeship opportunities amongst 14-16 year olds is much lower than anyone would wish!
When Nicky Morgan was Education Secretary she announced the intention to bring in legislation that would place a duty on schools to allow post-16 providers access to their students but these proposals have disappeared like scotch mist.
However, last week the Government accepted an amendment in the Lords that will ensure providers of technical and vocational education are able to talk to school students. Hoorah!
This partly delivers the intention of my bill which seeks to place a duty on schools to do what should be good practice anyway.
The interests of providers should never, in my view, be allowed to get in the way of the interests of young people. Because if they do they are also getting in the way of the interests of the country and the taxpayers who fund the education system as well.
Nic Dakin is the Labour MP for Scunthorpe
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