Legal background
The Act amends the scope of operation of Section 42A of the Education Act 1997 which concerns the provision of careers guidance in schools in England.
	The Act extends the lower age limit of the duty on schools in England to secure independent careers guidance to include pupils throughout their secondary education. It also extends the duty to academy schools and alternative provision academies in England. Academies will also be required to have regard to statutory guidance that underpins the duty.
	Academies are already subject to the rest of the government’s careers requirements in primary legislation. Section 42B of the Education Act 1997 requires all academy and maintained schools to ensure that there is an opportunity for a range of education and training providers to access pupils in year 8 to year 13 for the purpose of informing them about approved technical education qualifications or apprenticeships.