251.Paragraph 72 amends section 44(3)(a) of the Education Act 1997. The effect of this will be to reduce from 18 to 16 the age at which young people, about whom a school or FE institution is proposing to disclose information to a careers adviser, are entitled to prevent the disclosure taking place, if they so wish. Currently, it is the parents of young people under the age of 18 who may prevent such disclosure. This amendment is in keeping with the similar provision in section 117 of this Act in respect of disclosure of information to persons working for or with the Connexions Service in England (see section 126 for Wales). As it is intended that Careers Service advisers will have a key role in the new Connexions Service, it is important that these provisions on disclosure of information are consistent.
Amendment to the Education Act 1997