The Careers & Enterprise Company administered £2 million funding from JPMorgan Chase to deliver targeted support as part of its Effective Transitions Fund.
This aims to build the evidence base on effective careers education for disadvantaged young people at points of transition, such as after GCSEs.
As one of 10 hubs in England, Hertfordshire Careers Hub used its share of funding to focus on supporting Year 10 students receiving Free School Meals over a 2 ½ year period to help them transition successfully into post-16 options. In collaboration with 13 schools, it selected 150 students who not only received Free School Meals but also met other criteria that could put them at a disadvantage such as being at risk of being ‘mildly disengaged’ or with ‘low career aspirations.’
Partnering with Services for Young People, each student was paired with a Talent Mentor who regularly met with them to discuss career plans and set objectives for finding the best post-Year 11 courses.
The programme included visits to local employers, giving students insights into various careers and roles within Hertfordshire businesses. They interacted with employees on apprenticeship or graduate pathways. Talent Mentors also provided guidance on revision, exam techniques, and managing stress and anxiety before their GCSEs.
Even after GCSE results, Talent Mentors stayed in touch with students for another 6 months into Year 12, ensuring they felt confident and comfortable in their chosen paths.
Using evaluation carried out as part of the funded programme, the results in Hertfordshire have been incredibly positive. It reported: “Participants and leavers were tracked to find out where they went to after Year 11, and how they felt about these destinations. With positive destinations in education, employment or training report by over nine in ten of the pupils that were tracked, this project succeeded in support their cohort to remain engaged in education, employment or training”
Other findings included:
■ 90.7% of 129 pupils tracked in September 2023 entered a post-16 destination
■ 94.5% of the 127 tracked in November 2023 were in post-16 education, employment or training
■ 96.1% of the 128 tracked pupils in Spring 2024 sustained their education and training
■ 100% of endline survey respondents were happy with their choice of post-16 destination
■ 100% of endline survey respondents were happy with their main subjects/courses
■ 96.6% of endline survey respondents were happy with their college or training provider
A participating student from a school in Stevenage said:
“I have found that from the start of year 11 to the beginning of year 12 that career mentoring has been very helpful in helping me understand more about who I am as a person and what goals and plans I would like to achieve in the future. At the start of year 11, I wasn't really sure on what I aspired my future to be, or what career would be best for me however, mentoring has helped me to gain confidence, a better understanding, new aspirations and hopes for who I can become in the future and what career options are available for me. Without mentoring, I would have never been so aware of what opportunities are out there for my future.”
Gareth Dace, Careers Hub Strategic Lead: said: “The Effective Transition Fund project is a great example of how Hertfordshire Futures, via its Careers Hub can secure external funding, engage with stakeholders and deliver impactful programmes that support marginalised young people who will become our future workforce.”