The essential journalist news source
Back
24.
January
2018.
National Careers Week 5-10 March - Author Expert For Interview

Forward Planning Notice - Education/Careers/Schools/Parenting

5th-10th March - National CareersWeek(UK)

26th April - Take your child to work day (US and UK)

[image] 

**Expert available for interview (live and pre-rec), editorial commission and comment**

Edd Williams is the author of ‘Is Your School Lying To You? Get The Career You Want. Get The Life You Deserve.' (January 30 2018, Ortus Press, £11.99) Edd spent years as a successful recruitment consultant and now works as an academic and careers consultant (Duart Consultants), school governor, parent and writer. Press copies of ‘Is Your School Lying To You?' are available too.

 

Key talking points:

  • How and why is the careers and university advice dished out in secondary schools out-dated and unhelpful?

  • What impact will the Government's new Careers Strategy make to careers advice in schools?

  • How has the job market changed and what options are open to 15-19-year olds today?

  • What are employers looking for from the new generation of ‘workers'?

  • What can schools be doing to provide real-world advice to students during National Careers Week (5-10th March)?

  • Are the teachers we trust with our children's futures lacking essential skills and experience to competently advice on careers and university choices?

  • What's the point of work experience? How do you get a decent placement?

  • Does a 15-year-old need a decent CV?

 

"I think young people deserve better, so that's what this is about, to help you, the parents - know what you can do to help and why you shouldn't take everything the school says at face value or you, the student - to figure out how to make the most of the opportunities you have, to carve out the life you want." -Edd Williams

 

Opinion piece on the Department for Educations new Careers Strategy by Edd Williams

(This article is available for media placement. If you'd like to use this piece please get in touch:helenlewis@literallypr.com, or if you'd like to interview Edd about the Government's Careers Strategy).

 

Last month saw the DfE issuing new guidance on the necessity for a reinvigorated approach to careers related learning, the new Careers Strategy as introduced by Anne Milton MP is certainly to be welcomed but is it all mouth no trousers?

 

Certainly, there is much to be applauded in the 36-page briefing, but lofty goals and high-level wish lists are hardly a rarity in government documents. A lot of the back patting regarding the work they've been doing over the last two years, whilst I'm certainly is factually accurate, doesn't seem to gel with my own experiences. If anything, there has been a decrease in activity in step with a funding decline and consequently schools I had previously worked with were unable to continue to fund activities they knew were needed and wanted.

 

I also worry about the reliance on co-opting businesses to go into schools, whilst there is undoubtedly benefit to these kinds of enrichment activities, the type and quality of the presenter and the business are key and that will vary wildly based on geography. Also, forging links with a business or even a handful of local businesses can only ever represent a fairly myopic view of the career paths that can be forged and will by definition marginalise many students not interested in that particular sector or job type.

 

The best part of the new strategy are the timetabled, very specific targets that will now be statutory for schools to be answerable about their provision; no longer will it be the case that a wafty assurance that 'we do all this' will be considered enough - that is to be applauded.

 

The focus on encouraging technical and apprenticeships routes is also to be welcomed but I worry that societal pressure and league table performance based on A Level results and destinations, may still lead to a disproportionate push toward university regardless of its suitability for everyone.

 

There's a push on STEM jobs as well which is excellent, and they are finally starting to see the sense of starting this process much earlier; as has been done in the USA for years (because of the high cost of university people start their personal portfolio at a much earlier age to ensure the best opportunities and return on investment).

 

Fundamentally, there is much to be applauded in the strategy, but successive governments, Ofsted, the Sutton Trust and employers have been screaming out for better provision, which has hitherto been paid lip-service to. Having an appointed Careers Leader is a great thing to encourage but most schools will already have ticked that box. The true test of this initiative is in ensuring that it's not just a title and the person will have the necessary and relevant skills to effectively provide that advice which to date has not been the case. This is not something that can be juggled around also being Head of Geography and nor should it be, it should be a standalone, 40 hours a week full-time professional. Outside expertise should be brought in when necessary for specialist provision to help co-ordinate a breadth of activities and offer counsel to the students, as well as advice to staff. Anything less than that is a slap in the face to the students and no better than the current system. So, I keep my fingers crossed but don't hold my breath.

---

ESSENTIAL DETAILS

[image]Title:Is Your School Lying To You?

Author:Edd Williams

Genre:Education, Careers

Publisher:Ortus Press

Publication date:31Jan 2018

Availability:Paperback, eBook

ISBN:9781911383123

Price: £11.99

Pages:240

Website:https://edducan.com/

Twitter:https://twitter.com/TheEddWilliams

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/duartconsultants/

Press folder:http://bit.ly/2iTd35W

Online profile:

http://www.literallypr.com/public_relations/file/Edd-Williams.php

 

For more information, extracts, editorial opportunities, interview requests or review copies please get in touch withHelenLewis@LiterallyPR.com+44 (0) 7904801669