More than 280 people representing schools, colleges and education institutions across the region joined the North East Local Enterprise Partnership on Friday 14 July to pledge their commitment to improve careers education for each and every student in the North East.
The launch of North East Ambition saw more than 130 schools and colleges sign up to adopt, implement and achieve the Good Career Guidance benchmarks eight clearly defined benchmarks for high quality careers education that improve students’ transition from school to work by identifying routes to a successful working life.
Andrew Hodgson, Chair of the North East LEP said: “Following the success of the Good Career Guidance benchmarks pilot led by the North East LEP, it’s fantastic to see commitment from schools and colleges across the region that more young people will have access to life-changing careers education.
“The attendance at the event demonstrates the overwhelming commitment from those in education, business and other areas of industry to support North East Ambition and improve opportunities for our region’s young people. The North East LEP has worked hard to bring the sectors together in what is a unique collaboration that covers the entire region.
“Ensuring our future workforce is work ready is key to the economic success of our region. Improving skills is at the heart of our strategic economic plan and supporting schools and colleges to implement the Good Career Guidance benchmarks will help us achieve this.
“We’re well on our way to achieving our aim of 100,000 more and better jobs by 2024 and the launch of North East Ambition reinforces that ambition.”
David Baldwin Executive Headteacher at Churchill Community College and Norham High School said:
“We, as educators, all have a responsibility to ensure that we can help children become an effective part of society. The Benchmarks provide an effective framework for careers education, information, advice and guidance that allows us to do this.
“Leadership is crucial to making the Benchmarks work – I’d urge schools and colleges to ensure careers is represented on their senior leadership team and that there is resource in place, internally and through partnerships, to deliver the guidance.
“This isn’t about money, it’s about appropriate allocation of resource to help young people be ambitious, and achieve those ambitions. I’m delighted to see the Benchmarks being celebrated and look forward to them being adopted by more schools and colleges.”
North East Ambition builds on the success of the Good Career Guidance benchmarks pilot in the North East LEP region, which involved 16 schools and colleges. Recognised nationally as ‘transformational’, the pilot has gained significant national traction.
The 16 schools and colleges involved in the pilot attended the event, as did schools and business leaders enrolled in the North East LEP’s Enterprise Adviser network, which sees business people from some of the North East’s most successful industries work strategically with senior leaders in secondary schools to shape the quality of careers provision.
Michelle Rainbow, Skills Director at the North East LEP said: “We’ve seen what a positive impact the benchmarks can have on both schools and students.
“North East Ambition is about ensuring all young people, regardless of their starting points or backgrounds, have access to high quality careers advice that improves opportunities for them in their working lives.
“The initiative brings education, business and other stakeholders together to deliver effective and innovative careers education fit for the 21st Century.”
Schools and colleges attending the launch will be invited to a second event later in the year demonstrating how to put the Good Career Guidance benchmarks into practice. A North East Ambition toolkit is also available via the North East LEP website, www.nelep.co.uk
For more information about North East Ambition, visit www.nelep.co.uk/improving-skills