As a founding member of the Quality in Careers Consortium, NAHT is today supporting the launch of a new National Endorsement of Primary School Careers Education Awards to recognise the importance of careers education in primary schools.

Good careers education, advice and guidance should create ‘lightbulb moments’ for children and young people, making the connection between what they learn and experience during their education, and the opportunities that await beyond the school gates. While secondary school has traditionally been the phase for careers education, evidence shows that career aspirations vary very little between the ages of seven and 17, which suggests starting earlier is essential.

Seven awarding bodies offer a primary school careers education award and have confirmed they want to seek national endorsement, including CSW Group, C + K Careers, Complete Careers, Hull & East Yorkshire LEP, Ixion and Positive Steps.

All six are also awarding bodies for the national Quality in Careers Standard for secondary schools and colleges. The Quality in Careers Standard is the national quality award for careers education, information, advice and guidance in secondary schools, colleges and work-based learning, available in England, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. The Quality in Careers Standard is fully aligned with the Gatsby Benchmarks for Good Career Guidance and fully complies with the Department for Education’s statutory guidance.

You download a copy of the Careers Education Quality Awards National Endorsement Handbook for licensed awarding bodies here, and for more about the Quality in Careers Consortium and its work, see www.qualityincareers.org.uk/careers-education-in-primary-schools/national-endorsement.