FEdS has been involved in this area since 2003, when work with UCAS on their Advancement Programme evolved into FEdS’ “Signposter Programme”, which enabled individuals to personalise their search engine through an i-portfolio. A policy paper written by David Willetts in January 2009, proposing an all-age service, gave rise to two FEdS seminars with the now Minister for Universities and Science that autumn.
It was agreed that the essential principle of the Signposter approach remained – and remains – strong: that people of all ages and at all stages of their development should be able to access information and advice about learning and employment opportunities. However, the approach itself was already out of date, relying as it did on old technology, the removal of the enquiry from the learner and the need for the maintenance of an i-portfolio, which few thought would be popular.
Instead our thinking focused on the way technology now can be harnessed to complement and multiply the effect face-to-face support from teachers, careers professionals, mentor and parents.
Our work in this area continues following the announcement in October 2010 by John Hayes, Minister for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning, that England would finally have an all-age careers service.
FEdS held a successful conference at the BT Centre on March 21 2011 to explore the government’s vision for a unified service supported by a revitalised careers profession. We drew on policy, research and technical expertise to consider how we could work together to create a powerful, future‐focused system of careers support, able to play a critical role in our ambitions as a nation.
The conference report is available in the Library.
