Report

Paving the way

This report from UK think tank the Sutton Trust looks at careers guidance in secondary schools.

High-quality careers guidance is vital to ensuring young people can access jobs that suit their talents and aspirations. This advice is particularly important for students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, as they are less likely to have access to a wide range of knowledge and guidance from family and friends, or to have networks which provide an insight into a range of career options. When we last published research on careers guidance in our report Advancing Ambitions in 2014, our research found a ‘postcode lottery’ of provision, with significant variability between schools. Since then, the policy landscape has changed considerably, with many changes made with the aim to improve careers guidance in schools, but relatively little is known about how these changes are being implemented on the ground. This report looks in detail at the guidance now available to young people, their engagement with the activities and opportunities on offer, and any barriers to improving provision in schools and colleges.