Education Act 1997

[F1 42A Provision of careers guidance in schools in England U.K.

(1) The responsible authorities for a school in England within subsection (2) must secure that all registered pupils at the school are provided with independent careers guidance during [F2 their secondary education].

(2) A school is within this subsection if it provides secondary education and is one of the following—

(a) a community, foundation or voluntary school;

(b) a community or foundation special school (other than one established in a hospital);

(c) a pupil referral unit;

[F3 (d) an Academy school;

(e) an alternative provision Academy.]

(3) The responsible authorities for a school within subsection (2) are—

(a) in the case of a school within subsection (2)(a) or (b), its governing body;

(b) in the case of a pupil referral unit, the local authority that maintain it;

[F4 (c) in the case of an Academy school or an alternative provision Academy, the proprietor.]

(4) The responsible authorities must secure that careers guidance provided under subsection (1)—

(a) is presented in an impartial manner,

(b) includes information on options available in respect of 16 to 18 education or training, including apprenticeships, and

(c) is guidance that the person giving it considers will promote the best interests of the pupils to whom it is given.

[F5 (4A) Subsection (4)(b) does not apply in relation to pupils over compulsory school age.]

(5) Careers guidance provided to pupils at a school is independent for the purposes of this section if it is provided other than by—

(a) a teacher employed or engaged at the school, or

(b) any other person employed at the school.

F6 (6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(7) In this section—

• F7 ...

• “career” includes undertaking any training, education, employment or occupation;

• “careers guidance” means guidance about careers;

• F8 ...

• “16 to 18 education or training” means education or training suitable to the requirements of persons who have ceased to be of compulsory school age but have not attained the age of 18;

• “training” includes a voluntary or other placement apt to enable the development of any skill or competency (whether or not taking place at a time when the person concerned is still a registered pupil at a school in England).]

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 42A inserted (1.2.2012 for specified purposes, 1.9.2012 in so far as not already in force) by Education Act 2011 (c. 21), ss. 29(2), 82(3); S.I. 2012/84, art. 3; S.I. 2012/1087, art. 3

F2 Words in s. 42A(1) substituted (1.9.2022) by Education (Careers Guidance in Schools) Act 2022 (c. 13), ss. 1(2), 3(2); S.I. 2022/724, reg. 2

F3 S. 42A(2)(d)(e) inserted (1.9.2022) by Education (Careers Guidance in Schools) Act 2022 (c. 13), ss. 1(3), 3(2); S.I. 2022/724, reg. 2

F4 S. 42A(3)(c) inserted (1.9.2022) by Education (Careers Guidance in Schools) Act 2022 (c. 13), ss. 1(4), 3(2); S.I. 2022/724, reg. 2

F5 S. 42A(4A) inserted (1.9.2022) by Education (Careers Guidance in Schools) Act 2022 (c. 13), ss. 1(5), 3(2); S.I. 2022/724, reg. 2

F6 S. 42A(6) omitted (1.9.2022) by virtue of Education (Careers Guidance in Schools) Act 2022 (c. 13), ss. 1(6), 3(2); S.I. 2022/724, reg. 2

F7 Words in s. 42A(7) omitted (2.1.2018) by virtue of Technical and Further Education Act 2017 (c. 19), ss. 2(3), 47(2); S.I. 2017/1055, reg. 3(c)

F8 Words in s. 42A(7) omitted (1.9.2022) by virtue of Education (Careers Guidance in Schools) Act 2022 (c. 13), ss. 1(7), 3(2); S.I. 2022/724, reg. 2

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 42A applied (with modifications) (E.) (1.9.2013) by The Careers Guidance in Schools Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/709), regs. 1, 2

C2 S. 42A(4)(b) excluded (E.) (1.9.2013) by The Careers Guidance in Schools Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/709), regs. 1, 3