UniTasterDays introduces you to the opportunities for university engagement for your school, but what are your obligations?

The Education Act 2011 states that schools in England are legally required to provide impartial independent careers guidance to all students through years 8-13. This Act places the duty of careers provision directly on schools, and includes university advice, guidance and visits.

You can find guidelines of what schools should provide in the Department for Education publication Careers guidance and inspiration in schools: statutory guidance for governing bodies, school leaders and school staff. This includes schools providing students with access to a range of impartial activities that inspire them, including motivational speakers and university visits.

Remember also the evaluative role of Ofsted. Their school inspection handbook indicates that inspectors will take into account the quality of independent careers guidance and students’ destinations when making their judgement on the leadership and management of the school.

The Ofsted common inspection framework advises that schools should: ‘…successfully plan and manage learning programmes, the curriculum and careers advice so that all children and learners get a good start and are well prepared for the next stage in their education’ . The personal development, behaviour and welfare section of the same framework states schools should provide information on ‘choices about the next stage of their education… where relevant, from impartial careers advice and guidance’.

As well as policy directed towards schools, Higher Education (HE) institutions are also tasked with increasing the advice and guidance they provide. Much of this relates to the Office for Fair Access and the Prime Minister’s challenging goal to double the participation of students from disadvantaged backgrounds entering HE by 2020. This is very significant given the financial investment involved, including £232 million spent by institutions alone to support fair access to higher education during 2014-2015. Look out for the National Collaborative Outreach Programme which will also be launched during 2017.

If you want to increase your university engagement, you've found the right website. Please use our search and request pages to organise your university events today, or even contact us to arrange an independant university talk.