§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what advice is made available at school to pupils who do not wish to continue into further education and want to enter work. [66157]
§ Mr. Stephen TwiggSchool pupils receive advice on their post-16 choices from three main sources
a curriculum-led programme of careers education during school years nine, 10 and 11;Impartial advice on learning and career choices from a Connexions Personal Adviser or Careers Adviser;Careers information products such as the "It's Your Choice" workbook for students in year 10 or 11 and the "Working In" series of booklets that provide information on working in particular occupations.Careers education enables young people to develop the skills needed to understand and evaluate the post-16 options open to them. This is supported by impartial advice and guidance from a Connexions Personal Adviser or Careers Adviser. The Connexions Service is being established to provide integrated advice, guidance and support to 13 to 19-year-olds on a range of issues, including advice on learning and careers. It is currently live in 28 out of 47 local Learning and Skills Council areas in England. The Careers Service provides advice in those areas not yet covered by Connexions.
While the primary focus of connexions Personal Advisers and Careers Advisers is to encourage young people to stay in education or learning, they also provide advice on vocational and work related options for post-16 learning, including Modern Apprenticeships. Their help includes a job matching service to help young people find and retain a suitable job. They work with both young people and employers to ensure that, wherever possible, young people start a job with training and that employers are aware of their responsibilities under the Right to Time Off for Study or Training regulations.