Concerns persist as the government softens its stance on new school responsibilities
Concerns persist as the government softens its stance on new school responsibilities
Schools face an uphill battle as the government suggests they should ensure every student secures a post-16 destination, potentially subject to scrutiny from Ofsted, without adequate funding.
On Tuesday, Downing Street announced that schools must ensure each student has a clear post-16 pathway, backed by Ofsted, with guaranteed places at colleges or FE providers as a fallback option.
However, a revised statement the following day indicated that schools would merely âplay an enhanced roleâ in guiding students to these options.
The Department for Education plans to âupdate guidance so that schools consistently offer targeted assistanceâ for students at risk of becoming NEET (not in education, employment, or training).
This initiative aims to help students ânavigate their subsequent steps and smoothly transition into post-16 education and training.â
Yet, there is no indication if this guidance will carry statutory weight.
Recent data reveals nearly 950,000 individuals aged 16 to 24 in the UK were NEET from April to June (12.8 percent), an increase from 11.2 percent in 2019.
âSustained investment essentialâ
The DfE asserts that its new strategy will enable schools and multi-academy trusts to better facilitate successful post-16 transitions by focusing on enhancing performance.
However, Tom Richmond, a former DfE advisor, cautioned that expecting schools to provide personalized support for every young person at risk of becoming NEET seems unfeasible âwithout a consistent investment to enhance their capabilities and knowledge in this field.â
While schools are under a legal obligation to offer careers guidance, they arenât tasked with securing specific post-16 opportunities for students.
In contrast, local authorities have a responsibility under the âSeptember guaranteeâ to locate educational and training placements for individuals aged 16 and 17.
The extent to which the new school duties will overlap with local councils remains unclear.
Pepe DiâIasio, general secretary of the ASCL union for school leaders, noted that schools already dedicate significant effort to assist students with post-16 transitions but must operate within existing staffing and resource constraints.
âIf the government expects them to take on additional responsibilities, it raises questions about where the necessary funding and staffing will come from,â he added.
âAvoid adding another accountability measureâ
John Yarham, CEO of the Careers and Enterprise Company, stated that the new policy reflects âa heightened focus on the role schools play in ensuring positive outcomes.â
Yet, clarity regarding Ofstedâs involvement remains limited.
When asked for further details, the DfE stated that Ofstedâs ârenewed framework is based on the standards and expectations schools are required to meet, which will thus incorporate these enhanced requirements.â
However, Ofstedâs inspection framework starting in November is already established, meaning any new guidance for schools would only appear in future updates.
âUnder the revamped framework, we will assess how effectively students are supported for their next stage in education, training, or employment,â a spokesperson for the regulatory body confirmed.
âThe framework is constructed around the standards mandated by the government for schools. We will update it annually to reflect any changes to governmental policies.â
Richmond expressed skepticism about whether Ofsted inspections are the appropriate mechanism to ensure accountability regarding pupil destinations.
DiâIasio added that âturning this into another accountability measure overseen by Ofsted isnât a sensible resolution. We propose greater investment in local career services instead.â
Schools cannot create placements
The DfE has indicated that under the revised model, students lacking a post-16 study plan will be âautomatically assigned a place at a nearby college or further education provider.â
These students will be âcontacted by the institution to secure a place and receive the necessary support to stay engaged in education or training.â
A series of pilot programs will identify a âdefault provider in each region with the appropriate resources to assist young people with varied requirements.â
However, Yarham noted that schools lack the authority to generate placements in other institutions. He recommended enhancing the role of career hubs to facilitate support during educational transitions.
During the Labour conference this week, Sir Keir Starmer announced plans to eliminate the Blair-era objective of having 50 percent of young individuals attending university.
The government aims to replace it with a new target that two-thirds of children should either attend university or secure a top-tier apprenticeship.
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Ormiston Academies Trust
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Truro & Penwith College
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