The West Cumbria 14-19 Partnership has established an Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) task group with a representative membership.

Training providers, including ConstructionSkills, schools, FE colleges, Aim Higher and Connexions come together bi- monthly and meet with a Student Sabbatical Officer who represents a Joint School Council for the area to discuss the views of young people in the region. The function of the group is to ensure that young people have access to good quality information at key transition points, delivered impartially by quality assured partners.

An IAG self assessment has be devised, against the national standard, which most schools have now completed. This self assessment, taken alongside an IAG development plan and ‘IAG Essentials’ staff training, delivered by Connexions, can lead to the achievement of a ‘Better IAG Quality Award’.

The award and the individual elements of it help all partners in inspection and audit phases, but schools get particular benefit for their SEF. One mainstream school, in the region, has achieved the full award and many more are working towards it.

This summer we will run our second CEIAG (Careers, Education, Information, Advice and Guidance) Network conference where we review progress with senior managers, plan activity for the year ahead and address key problem areas.

For further information on the work of the task group, contact David Galloway, IAG Advisor, North West England.