157 Group launches information advice and guidance policy paper
20th January 2012
For immediate release: 20 January 2012
157 Group launches information advice and guidance policy paper
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Today the 157 Group published its latest policy paper, entitled Information is not enough: the case for professional careers guidance. The paper is endorsed by the Institute for Career Guidance with a foreword by their immediate past president Steve Higginbotham. The paper welcomes the Government's ambitions to strengthen careers education and guidance but argues for the importance of a qualified and professional workforce, greater collaboration between FE colleges, Jobcentre Plus and the National Careers Service and for greater co-operation between schools, sixth forms and colleges to ensure that impartial IAG is readily available.
Lynne Sedgmore CBE, executive director of the 157 Group said, "This is a timely policy paper making the case for a professional careers education and guidance workforce that can help learners to make informed choices about their futures. We welcome the Government's commitment to improving IAG but we feel that there are some current stumbling blocks that need removing before this can be progressed any further. Although we are supportive of Next Step, we are still pushing for an entitlement to face-to-face careers guidance for people of all ages, as this is what we feel makes a real difference to achieving effective IAG with positive outcomes for all."
Marilyn Hawkins, chair of 157 Group and principal of Barnet and Southgate College said, "Embedded throughout this IAG policy paper are examples of best practice careers education from within our member colleges. Colleges are forward-thinking and deliver robust, innovative and collaborative IAG for their learners using their own resources. However, if we are to ensure that learners can fulfil their dreams we need to make professional careers staff more readily available, ensure the flow of impartial information, put resources in place to ensure key information is interpreted effectively and last but not least make face-to-face guidance available for those of all ages."
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---NOTES TO EDITORS---
The policy paper can be downloaded from the 157 Group website at: http://www.157group.co.uk/files/information_is_not_enough_.pdf
---About the 157 Group---
The 157 Group represents 27 of the most influential colleges in the FE sector. It was formed in 2006 in response to paragraph 157 of Sir Andrew Foster's report on the future of further education colleges, in which he argued that principals of large successful colleges should play a greater role in policymaking.
---CONTACT---
Gemma Knott
Tel: 07581354750
Email: gemma.knott@157group.co.uk
The 157 Group Limited P O Box 58147 London SW8 9AF
Website: www.157group.co.uk
