Access to schools for education and training providers

We asked for your views on the proposed changes to statutory guidance for schools on access for education and training providers. This is following changes made through the Skills and Post-16 Education Act 2022, where we strengthened existing provider access legislation to require schools to provide six encounters with providers of technical education or apprenticeships for all pupils, during school years 8-13.

We received 137 responses to the consultation from a wide variety of interested stakeholders including: schools, providers, careers professionals, unions and others.

Overall, we received a positive response to the revised statutory guidance and to our proposals on how we support and intervene in schools that require further support to comply. This includes 83% agreeing that the statutory guidance is clear and easy to understand.

We also received good support for the use of peer and expert reviews to strengthen the quality assurance of careers guidance in schools and colleges.

Following careful considerations of responses to this consultation, we have taken on board some suggestions to make improvements to the statutory guidance. We have reduced the length of the overall guidance by refining sections and using weblinks. We have also continued to work with The Careers & Enterprise Company to shape our support for schools and providers in line with consultation feedback.

You can read the Government’s response to the consultation in full on the Access to schools for education and training providers - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) webpage.