Quality Standards for Young People's Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG)

We have published our response to the DfES consultation on the proposed new quality standard for commissioning information, advice and guidance for young people. Read our summarised response or download it in full.

Summary of our response

The need for high quality, unbiased, and appropriate careers guidance has never been greater.

Young people are facing an increasing array of choices at 14, 16 and 18, and the careers information, advice and guidance they receive will have a significant impact on their ability to steer a path through the various routes open to them.

While we agree with the basic principles set out in the standards, it is unclear how the quality standard will be used to ensure that the whole range of appropriate provision is presented to a young person. Will an employer, unhappy with the quality of young people applying for training places in his company be able to question careers providers using the standard? Will training providers, if unable to fill apprenticeship places, be able to raise their concerns?

Employers and training providers need to be explicitly named in the standard as "key stakeholders" in the process of commissioning and providing IAG to young people.

Added 19 March 2007