Ministers in the United Kingdom have been told careers advice is needed throughout all secondary schools across England if the Government is serious about levelling up.

Conservative Member of Parliament Mark Jenkinson (Workington) called for careers advice to be offered to all pupils from year 7 until they leave secondary school after GCSEs or A-levels, a service which some academy trusts do not offer.

Introducing his Education (Careers Guidance in Schools) Bill, Jenkinson said it would simplify current law, creating a “level playing field” instead of the difference between the contractual obligations academies have to provide advice, and the duty under the law other state-funded schools have.

His bill later cleared its first Commons hurdle by receiving an unopposed second reading and will undergo further scrutiny at a later date.

It has Government support, which increases its chance of becoming law.

He explained the need for his “landmark bill”, saying: “At present, the statutory duty to provide careers guidance falls on maintained schools, special schools and pupil referral units but not academies, although many academies do indeed have a contractual obligation to secure independent careers guidance through their own funding agreements.”

Labour shadow education minister Peter Kyle said the bill was “a vital way to expose children to alternative options to work with those surrounding them when growing up”.


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