Vocational routes must be important part of careers advice says Principal

College of North West London Principal, Vicki Fagg, is urging schools across the borough to ensure that vocational routes into employment are highlighted to students at an early age, in response to the launch of a new Ofsted report.

Vicki’s comments come after Ofsted released its report ‘Going in the right direction?’ last week, which examined careers guidance at 60 secondary schools and academies across the country. The report found that too few schools are providing careers guidance that meets the needs of their students. In particular, there were mixed results as to how well the full range of education and training opportunities open to students when they reach age 16, were highlighted. The report showed that in many cases vocational training and apprenticeships were not promoted effectively and that the A-level route to university is promoted as the ‘gold standard’.

As Vicki points out this could be denying students the chance to explore other routes that could lead to a satisfying and successful career, saying: “Our schools do a fantastic job of educating and preparing our young people but in the 21st century, the traditional route of studying GCSEs, A levels and then attending university is no longer the only option or indeed necessarily the best preparation for young people's future working lives. There are now so many different options available for young people and it's important they are made aware of these and don't simply receive a one-dimensional assessment of career options."

For example, through apprenticeships, school leavers and young adults have the oppor-tunity to gain both technical knowledge and hands-on expertise, while they are working within a company. It means they can earn and learn at the same time.

Indeed apprenticeships are becoming increasingly popular and the College trains around 500 apprentices in many different business areas each year and is always on hand to help students who think this may be the route for them. In addition to this, school leavers have the chance to study on a range of different courses including BTECs, HNCs and HNDs and many of these can lead students on to degree courses or employment.

Many people are unaware that vocational qualifications, which take a practical approach to learning without missing any of the important theory, are available at the same stand-ard as A Levels and can provide a suitable route into top university courses.

In addition the report said that some schools were not providing sufficient opportunities for learners to engage with employers, meaning that students miss out on direct experi-ence of the working world and an understanding of the broad range of careers available for students at a local and national level.

Student exposure to employers and work experience is something that the College of North West London value. Vicki explains: “It’s vital for students to understand the busi-ness world, both in terms of what careers are available but also in terms of what is ex-pected of them as an employee or as an entrepreneur. This can only be done through allowing students to see for themselves what it is like. In addition to securing work expe-rience with local employers and apprenticeships, we also have real work training at the College with our own hair & beauty salon and restaurant which the students work in. It’s these sorts of experiences that help build confidence and ability in our students and pre-pares them for when they leave College.” The College has great relationships with local schools to ensure that information is given to pupils about the options available to them and is keen to hear from any school that would like to speak to the College about how they can work together. Vicki adds: “As Ofsted states, providing young people with access to careers guidance is crucial to help them make their way into work. The College works with numerous schools to assist them in this responsibility. We also provide comprehensive advice to individuals who are seeking to find out more about routes into careers and the training courses which will help them succeed.”