EEF launches investigation into improving careers education

The Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) has launched an investigation into ways to improve outcomes for young people through better careers education.

The investigation is supported by bank of America Merril Lynch and will seek to determine the current state of careers education across state schools in England, as well as identify the most effective types of careers education.

According to the EEF, there is strong evidence that too much careers education in England is inadequate, with wide variation across the country. Additionally, it claims that there is a risk that a lack of quality careers advice has a disproportionate impact on pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds, who can be left poorly equipped to make decisions about their future prospects.

The two organisations have commissioned a review, which will be conducted by Dr Deirdre Hughes OBE, principal research fellow at the University of Warwick’s Institute for Employment Research, and Dr Anthony Mann, director of policy and research at the Education Employers Charity, which is expected to be published later this year.

Sir Kevan Collins, chief executive of the EEF, said today: “High-quality careers advice can make a real difference to young people’s outcomes after school but research suggests that its current provision in England is patchy at best. Finding out what the evidence says about effective approaches and programmes, and their link to academic attainment, will help teachers and school leaders to make informed decisions about the advice and support they offer.

“I’m delighted that we’re being supported by Bank of America Merrill Lynch who are offering funding, support and advice and that Dr Deidre Hughes OBE and Dr Anthony Mann, leading experts in this field, will be undertaking this review. Together, we hope to identify the most promising ways to improve outcomes through careers education in England.”

Anthony Harte, head of community engagement, EMEA at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, said: “Youth unemployment is one of today’s biggest social concerns for government and communities across the UK. This is why, at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, a large proportion of our support focuses on initiatives that promote skills, knowledge and aspiration to facilitate young people’s transition from education into employment. We are therefore pleased to work with the Education Endowment Foundation and look forward to the results of this research, which should strengthen our understanding of the effectiveness of careers education.”