Source · Select Committees · Education Committee
Recommendation 4
4
Acknowledged
Update statutory guidance to mandate Compass tool reporting for all secondary schools and colleges
Conclusion
The Department should update its statutory guidance to make reporting through the Compass tool compulsory for all secondary schools and colleges, and work with the Careers and Enterprise Company to ensure that they are providing the support and resources needed to do this. (Paragraph 17) The organisations delivering CEIAG
Government Response Summary
The government agrees on the potential of digital solutions and has commissioned the Careers and Enterprise Company (CEC) to review and recommend enhancements for Compass+. It will consider the feasibility of a national work experience platform as a longer-term aspiration, but does not commit to making Compass reporting compulsory.
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
126. We agree with the Committee that we can do more to scope the role of digital solutions. The CEC’s provider directory is a tool for Careers Leaders, Careers Hub leads, Enterprise Coordinators, and education leaders to find and contact delivery organisations who can help achieve the Gatsby Benchmarks, including benchmark 6. Organisations in the directory undergo a robust quality assurance process to ensure they can match the requirements of each benchmark, including experiences of workplaces. We have commissioned CEC to review and make recommendations for any enhancements and improvements to the existing national digital infrastructure in England for employers (Employer Standards) and schools (Compass+) which may meaningfully enhance the Careers Hub offer on experiences of the workplace. 127. We agree with the Committee that there is potential for an online platform that promotes a range of work experience placements both locally and across the country. A national platform for work experience placements does have potential to be designed to have a broader reach, that could go beyond supporting schools and colleges to meet benchmark 6. It could also support other government work-based programmes, such as T Levels, traineeships and supported internships. Providing a one-stop-shop for all types of work placement programmes and streamlining the matching process for employers and education providers, could help secure employer engagement to support the government’s reforms to technical education and skills. 128. Creating a national platform is a longer-term aspiration that will require extensive engagement with stakeholders, an understanding of what is already in place and an assessment of the benefits and challenges of a centrally coordinated system. As part of the work to develop our Strategic Action Plan for Careers, we will consider how a digital solution could best support work experience, including the feasibility of including a national platform for work experience placements as part of the single starting point. 129. We will ensure that all of the learning from the Experiences of the Workplace strategy is disseminated widely. In addition to the resource hub, we will continue to share good practice through Careers Hubs, Careers Leaders and other careers and education networks. At our next planned spri