IAG Strategy: Information and Resources
Article supplied by DCSF
At some point in their careers most teachers have been asked by pupils for guidance about different education pathways and careers options. Now, the Government’s newly launched Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) strategy places schools at the heart of this process. So what is the IAG strategy all about, and what do teachers need to know?
What are young people entitled to under the new IAG strategy?
- Excellent, personalised and impartial careers information, advice and guidance in schools.
- Support for parents so they can help their children to make the right decisions.
- State-of-the-art online IAG resources, accessible 24/7 by young people and their parents, with links into one-to-one advice.
- Lots of opportunities for young people to get a feel for different courses and careers, through taster sessions and high quality experiences – including higher education institutions and workplaces.
- Opportunities to build a relationship with a respected adult through mentoring or shadowing, which is especially important for disadvantaged young people who often underestimate their own abilities and how far these can take them.
- Access to specialist local help for vulnerable young people and those with additional needs
What role do teachers have in the new strategy?
- All teachers and some support teachers may be asked to provide information and impartial advice on 14-19 pathways and on learning and progression routes for their own specialist subject, including into higher education and the workplace.
- Subject teachers need to be prepared to direct young people as appropriate to other advisers and sources of IAG information that supplement their own knowledge and understanding.
- Some teachers may also be asked to act as personal tutors. From September 2010, every secondary school student will receive personal tutoring from a single member of staff who knows them well, has an overview of their progress and can signpost them to additional resources, support or advice that will help them to address any learning needs or issues, so they can achieve their potential.
Useful resources and support
Teachers will have lots of support delivering the IAG strategy from local authorities, external IAG services and wider school/college staff.
For more help and information see:
Quality, Choice and Aspiration - A strategy for young people’s information,
advice and guidance: http://tinyurl.com/quality-choice-and-aspiration
Statutory Guidance for schools on Impartial Careers Education:
http://tinyurl.com/statutory-guidance
IAG statutory guidance resources pack for schools:
http://tinyurl.com/statutory-guidance-resources
TDA guide to careers-related IAG:
http://www.tda.gov.uk/teachers/iag.aspx
TDA career-related subject resources:
www.tda.gov.uk/teachers/iag/subjectresources
Impartial careers education: Principles into practice (National College, 2009):
http://tinyurl.com/careers-education
Impartial careers education: Effective leadership of information, advice and guidance
(National College, 2009):
http://tinyurl.com/careers-education-leadership
To recap on the different 14-19 options available to young people, visit
www.dcsf.gov.uk/14-19
pressoffice@voicetheunion.org.uk
