News: U-Explore in record start
Rotherham education specialist, U-Explore, has had a record start to the school year with the total amount of time that young people across England have spent using its careers and employability platform since September 2012 equating to more than six years' worth of work-related learning.
Based in Templeborough, U-Explore specialises in enabling schools to deliver reality based careers information, advice and guidance. Their U-Explore national school product is an innovative software solution which engages with young people through cutting edge media.
A recent government report has examined the effects of the statutory duty for careers guidance that came into effect in September 2012 and saw the responsibility for young people's careers guidance transferred from local authorities to schools.
The report from the Education Select Committee warns that careers services for young people in England show a "worrying deterioration" and that "urgent steps are needed to improve matters".
The MPs said: "Too many schools lack the skills, incentives or capacity to fulfil the duty put upon them without a number of changes being made. Young people deserve better than the service they are likely to receive under the current arrangements. Schools cannot simply be left to get on with it."
Ahead of the introduction of the new statutory duty, U-Explore's national careers platform was rebuilt from the ground up, with the involvement of teachers and students. Key features include more than 2,000 written and video job profiles, an online action plan, intuitive CV builder and links to educational establishments throughout the UK.
Andy Pickles, chief executive of U-Explore, which is also lead sponsor of Maltby Academy in Rotherham, said: "I believe the government was right to make changes to how careers guidance was being delivered last year as it was patchy and inconsistent, and if their objective was to cause disruption and debate, then it is a job well done if it now helps to shape the right approach.
"Schools and colleges should be able to decide what is right for their students and shape an offer that meets their individual needs in a relevant and impartial way. In achieving this, however, a school has to have a dedicated, ring-fenced budget and the appropriate measures must be put in place by the local authority, Ofsted and business organisations, to ensure the school is not just delivering young people with qualifications, but young people who are 'qualified' to make a positive progression from the school to their next destination.
"This is not a one-size-fits-all strategy but there must be consistency in what is on offer to all young people, a clear understanding from schools about what success looks like when young people receive excellent guidance and an accountability, so the importance of getting this right sits up there with attainment and league tables."
U-Explore website
Images: U-Explore
Based in Templeborough, U-Explore specialises in enabling schools to deliver reality based careers information, advice and guidance. Their U-Explore national school product is an innovative software solution which engages with young people through cutting edge media.
A recent government report has examined the effects of the statutory duty for careers guidance that came into effect in September 2012 and saw the responsibility for young people's careers guidance transferred from local authorities to schools.
The report from the Education Select Committee warns that careers services for young people in England show a "worrying deterioration" and that "urgent steps are needed to improve matters".
The MPs said: "Too many schools lack the skills, incentives or capacity to fulfil the duty put upon them without a number of changes being made. Young people deserve better than the service they are likely to receive under the current arrangements. Schools cannot simply be left to get on with it."
Ahead of the introduction of the new statutory duty, U-Explore's national careers platform was rebuilt from the ground up, with the involvement of teachers and students. Key features include more than 2,000 written and video job profiles, an online action plan, intuitive CV builder and links to educational establishments throughout the UK.
Andy Pickles, chief executive of U-Explore, which is also lead sponsor of Maltby Academy in Rotherham, said: "I believe the government was right to make changes to how careers guidance was being delivered last year as it was patchy and inconsistent, and if their objective was to cause disruption and debate, then it is a job well done if it now helps to shape the right approach.
"Schools and colleges should be able to decide what is right for their students and shape an offer that meets their individual needs in a relevant and impartial way. In achieving this, however, a school has to have a dedicated, ring-fenced budget and the appropriate measures must be put in place by the local authority, Ofsted and business organisations, to ensure the school is not just delivering young people with qualifications, but young people who are 'qualified' to make a positive progression from the school to their next destination.
"This is not a one-size-fits-all strategy but there must be consistency in what is on offer to all young people, a clear understanding from schools about what success looks like when young people receive excellent guidance and an accountability, so the importance of getting this right sits up there with attainment and league tables."
U-Explore website
Images: U-Explore
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