School Leaver Forum - Kingston University : When are young people making decisions?

James Cannon, Education Liaison and Outreach Manager | 25th February 2015

When are young people

making career

decisions?

AGR School Leaver Forum | James Cannon, Education Liaison and Outreach Manager

Who am I?

Education Liaison and Outreach Manager at

Kingston University

Work with ~11,000 learners each year

Half of these are school leavers

Part of the Widening Participation Unit

Work to ensure that all who can benefit from HE

can gain access to and succeed within

university

Recruitment cross-over


Why am I here?

To look at when young people make

decisions about their future


Decision timeline

Birth

Enter primary school

Primary/secondary school transition

Start GCSEs

Begin KS5/leave school

GCSEs – YELLOW post its

University – ORANGE post its

Career/Job – GREEN post its



When are decisions made

according to the young people?

Survey of ~800 secondary/Sixth Form/FE pupils in 2013/14

Before today, had you thought about going to university?

No

Yes


Yes

No


What does this say to you?


Primary school children as

decision makers

Influence cast early.

Socio-economic differences in attainment.


http://www.jrf.org.uk/system/files/poorer-children-education-full.pdf


Primary school children as

decision makers

Influence cast early.

Socio-economic differences in attainment.

Without an awareness of a career it is

impossible to consider it.

If that awareness is there from a young

age, much easier to choose it.


https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/299689/bis-14-516-national-strategy-for-access-and-student-success.pdf


The two most urgent priorities for governments across

the United Kingdom should be:

Careers education, starting in primary school,

including the development of ‘employability’ skills

and quality employer contact;

Helping SMEs to invest in apprenticeships and

workplace training, using Chambers of Commerce

and other local bodies to encourage and support

companies’ aspirations.


So…

Decisions are considered at a young

age

Support is needed at a young age

Target your work at younger age

groups!


But…

Data from Sutton Trust Summer Schools:


When are young people making

career decisions?

Decision making begins early

So should our work


The EY School Leaver programme

EY as an employer of choice

A career in professional services

A career in business

Where do I go next?


When are young people making

career decisions?

Decision making begins early

So should our work

Influence can be exerted late on

Aim to work with cohorts from a young

age over their whole school career for

maximum impact

Recruiting & HR

School Leaver Forum - Kingston University : When are young people making decisions?