Commentary on Sections Careers education and guidance Section 29: Careers guidance in schools in England
167.Subsection (2) inserts a new section 42A into EA 1997 to require maintained schools and pupil referral units in England to secure independent careers guidance for pupils in the school year in which they reach the age of 14 until they have ceased to be of compulsory school age.
168.New section 42A(4) provides that the guidance must be impartial, and as is currently set out in section 43(2ZB) (which has not been brought into force), it must also include information on all 16 to 18 education or training options, including apprenticeships.
169.New section 42A(5) sets out what constitutes independent guidance: a school cannot fulfil the duty by asking a teacher or another person employed by the school to provide guidance to all pupils. However, this would not prohibit a teacher from offering some careers advice.
170.Subsections (3) to (9) make consequential amendments to sections 43 to 46 of EA 1997, principally to confine their application to schools in Wales. However, the duty in section 45 to provide careers information continues to apply to further education institutions in England.