Yes you read it right, 7 year-olds are to receive career advice under new Gov’t proposals. You can just imagine it now; little 7 year-old Johnny updating his CV after sitting his Year 2 SATs! The report ‘Quality, Choice and Aspiration – A strategy for young people’s information, advice and guidance’ has flagged up the need for better careers information, advice & guidance (IAG) highlighting that it should be delivered within the Key Stage 2 curriculum. The reason? “…because decisions made at the point of transition from primary to secondary school can have a real impact on the direction young people take in their early years of secondary school”.

But should it really be delivered as young as 7?

The strategy doesn’t really say how it will be delivered to primary school pupils but I bet there will be plenty of info on how to become an astronaut or cowboy!

The report does seriously bring up the fact that we need radical change in the delivery of IAG and that it should be available and actively taught at a younger age. One thing I’m still trying to get my head around in that quote is “the transition from primary to secondary school…” and why this means 7 year-olds. Surely it would be more practical at a slightly older age when pupils are actually transitioning from primary to secondary, say 10/11?

This would fit in with the Government’s 14-19 programmes (i.e. the diploma) and allow young people to start thinking about how their choices may affect their future at a time they are more mature (than a 7 year-old).

What is vital though and is quite rightly flagged up is the need to allow young people to have fair access to their aspirations including HE, apprenticeships or higher level qualifications.