§ Charles HendryTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment his Department has made of the findings of the OECD review of careers guidance policies in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [157508]
§ Margaret Hodge[holding answer 1 March 2004]: The OECD report recognises the high quality of the UK's career guidance services, asserting, that 'Compared to most other OECD countries, career guidance is very highly developed in the United Kingdom'.
The OECD places particular emphasis on: the importance of programmes designed to develop career management skills (as well as support when making decisions at key transition points); and access to impartial advice from an agency that is external to the learning institution in which the student is based. Both are key features of careers education and guidance provision in England.
§ Charles HendryTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans h s Department has to revise the provision of careers guidance to under-19s; and if he will make a statement. [157510]
§ Margaret HodgeThe Connexions Service provides all 13 tol9-year-olds with access to information, advice and guidance to help them make informed learning and career choices. This is complemented by support from learning institutions, in particular through schools' careers education programmes, available to all young people in years 9–11.
The Department has set in train an end-to-end review of the delivery of careers education and guidance, to assess the extent to which the support currently provided by Connexions and learning institutions meets the needs of all young people, taking account of the advice and support implications that arise from the reforms to 14–19 education announced in "14–19: Opportunity and Excellence", published in January 2003.
§ Charles HendryTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what representations he has received concerning the provision of careers guidance by Connexions personal advisers; and if he will make a statement. [157511]
§ Margaret Hodge[holding answer 1 March 2004]: A small number of Connexions Personal Advisers have written to DfES expressing concerns that not all young people are receiving support on making learning and career choices, because of Connexions' focus on reducing the number of young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET).
We have made it clear to Connexions Partnerships that providing access to careers information, advice and guidance to all young people—differentiated according to each individual's needs—is a key element of the preventative strategy to reduce NEETs.