IAG Standards National Good Practice Event National Audit Feedback

1. IAG StandardsNational Good Practice EventNational Audit Feedback Jenny Cryer Business Development Manager igen Ltd

2. Process Registration and self assessment Initial meeting with a Consultant Consultancy Visit Report Action Plan

3. What the audit looks at

4. Our Consultancy Team 30 Experienced Consultants spread throughout England All have a strong background in: • IAG • 14-19 • The development of Diplomas • The use of quality standards to develop practice

5. Progress by October 09 • 200 Consortia throughout England audited • 50 further consortia matched to Consultants and in the process of being audited • £5000 grant to support the process given by the DCSF to Consortia in phase 1

6. Audits Completed by Region

7. 2. Young people receive the information, advice and guidance on personal wellbeing and financial capability issues that they need 1. Young people are informed about how information, advice and guidance services can help them and how to access the services they need • Awareness of Connexions amongst young people interviewed in the audits was high. They were less clear about how this related to help they might need with Diplomas. In some consortia, opportunities to signpost Connexions services are being missed in centrally produced publications. • This standard was not well evidenced in the audits. Auditors were particularly concerned about how students on alternative provision accessed this help.

8. 4. Young people have the advice and guidance that they need to make well-informed and realistic decisions about learning and career options 3. Young people have the information they need to make well-informed and realistic decisions about learning and careers • References to Diplomas in the 14-19 Prospectus websites was not good in many areas. The standard of Careers/ Connexions libraries visited were variable. Information in some setting was good, but in schools not yet delivering Diplomas, information was much more patchy. • Young people valued the opportunity to have IAG. There were some issues around the access to careers guidance for students before they accessed the Diploma. In some areas this was good.

9. 6. Young people (reflecting the make-up of their communities) are engaged in the design, delivery and evaluation of information, advice and guidance provision 5. Information, advice and guidance services promote equality of opportunity, celebrate diversity and challenge stereotypes • Good efforts had been made to encourage non stereotypical applications to Diplomas, but in general this does not appear to have impacted on choices made. • Young people are involved in Connexions development in many areas, but this does not appear to have been developed to include Diplomas. Young people interviewed were very keen to become involved in developing and promoting Diplomas.

10. 8. Information, advice and guidance providers understand their roles and responsibilities 7. Parents and carers know how information, advice and guidance services can help their children and know how these services are accessed • It is clear that for Diplomas to be successful, the engagement of parents is key. There was some concern expressed by auditors around the accuracy of information provided for parents at options events, and the need to include balanced information about all of the curriculum offer. Information for parents relating to the Diploma given on 14-19 websites is generally poor and this represents a wasted opportunity. • The audits found high levels of commitment from all staff. However, it was clear that not everyone understands everyone else’s role, and this may be preventing collaboration from being as effective as it could be. The major area for development in virtually all audits was the understanding of the role of the tutor, and the need to provide CPD and support for them in delivering Diploma IAG and signposting students to other sources of IAG.

11. 10. Staff providing information, advice and guidance services are appropriately qualified, work to relevant professional standards and receive continuing professional development 9. Programmes of career and personal development for young people are planned and provided collaboratively • The audits found fairly isolated examples of good practice in developing a consortium entitlement to careers education around the Diplomas, and to devising common modules that are delivered throughout the Partnership. Where a learner entitlement is in place this appears to be an excellent vehicle to promote consistency of approach to the delivery of IAG. • IAG staff are well trained in terms of IAG but do not always understand the Diploma offer. At consortium level, there does not always appear to be a coherent approach to ensuring that all staff are trained and understand the Diploma offer. The key area for development in terms of training is the tutors. 78% of audits found a need for tutor training.

12. 12. Processes for commissioning impartial information, advice and guidance services are effective and result in services that will meet the needs of young people and their parents/carers 11. Information, advice and guidance services are regularly and systematically monitored, reviewed and evaluated and actions are taken to improve services in response to the findings • In some areas there appears to be a systematic process for monitoring and reviewing progress, and for gathering feedback. However, in many areas, those pupils interviewed who are currently on the diplomas did not appear to have been asked for their views on the IAG they received. In some areas, systems were in place at institution level, but did not appear to be in place at consortium level. The use of CEIAG quality standards appears to have declined in some areas. • In most areas, 14-19 delivery consortia did not appear to have been involved in the commissioning process either in terms of producing the service specification, or in the evaluation process. Some concerns were expressed about the impact that the full rage of Diplomas would have on the IAG services offered to younger pupils within current arrangements.

13. General Feedback • Many Local Authorities welcome the opportunity to have an independent assessment confirm areas for development that they may be aware of, but that may have been difficult to address internally • The audits have revealed significant areas of good practice and genuine commitment to IAG • Support from the audit has been welcomed. In many places this support does not appear easy to access locally • IAG around Diplomas needs to be developed, in particular web based information

14. General Feedback • In many cases individual practice is good, systematic collaborative approaches to IAG are not yet in place in many consortia • Tutors are key, and need CPD around both IAG skills and their knowledge of 14-19 pathways • The buy in of schools is key to enable staff to access training • IAG needs to be central to the development of the Personal Tutor role • Need for support for those developing CEIAG programmes in local areas igen working on behalf of the Department for Children, Schools and Families

15. General feedback • Need for IAG support for 14-19 Leads within Authorities • There is some concern over access by younger students to the IAG they need pre Diploma choice, which may be exacerbated when more lines of learning and pathways are in place • The importance of Universal Service IAG in supporting 14-19, need to be recognised in commissioning and resourcing • Need for direction on using local standards • The importance of quality assurance for 14-19 Prospectus

16. Contact Jenny Cryer igen Ltd Telephone 0113 226 2141 Email: iagconsultancy@igengroup.co.uk www.14-19iagconsultancy.co.uk