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IAGS Strategy Update - December 2007

See the IAGS Strategy Summary published in October 2007 for background information and recommended actions – these remain current.

IAGS Champions

The County IAGS Strategy requests all learning providers to identify an IAGS Champion for their organisation. This needs to be a senior member of staff. Their role is to oversee the review and development of IAG in their organisation and contribute to the area IAGS Plan and implementation. A list of recommended activities over which they should have oversight will be published on the IAGS website in January 2008. A county database will be established in January 2008 to ensure all IAGS Champions are kept in the loop regarding news, materials, support and good practice events.

Which Audit should you use for IAGS and when?

Organisations are recommended to complete their IAGS Audits by 15 February 2007 – support is available to do this. Although the IAGS County Working Group have provided a specific audit tool, there are a number of audit frameworks you may already be using. As with all policy developments that are implemented at national, regional and local level, there is a danger of duplication and confusion. Here are some of the frameworks around and their advantages and disadvantages. We recommend you use the Northamptonshire Audit Tool or Career Mark5.

All the above provide evidence for inspection. If you are using a different audit tool and are not sure if it is adequate contact your linked person below for advice.

A checklist to help you shape your area IAGS Plans will be available on the IAGS website in January 2008.

Progress to date in each 14-19 Area

Any questions?

As always, do get in touch if you have requests, questions, suggestions or concerns:

Email: iags@connexions-northamptonshire.org.uk
Website: www.connexions-northamptonshire.org.uk/iags

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IAGS Strategy Update - November 2007

People

The county has appointed a 14-19 Development Adviser to raise awareness and understanding of developments in 14-19 learning, particularly the new Diplomas. Liz Cundy joins the workforce from 10 December 2007. She will be based with the Connexions IAGS Development Team. Contact details:

Email: lcundy@connexions-northamptonshire.org.uk
Tel: 01933 222626
Fax: 01933 276382
Address: 9-10 Sheep Street, Wellingborough, NN8 1BL

Liz’s role will be to work with staff in schools, colleges and work-based training, parents and young people to:

• Promote awareness and understanding of changes within 14-19 learning.
• Raise awareness and knowledge of pathways, including the new Diplomas.
• Support staff training events on helping 13-19 year olds with choices about education and training.
• Support parent and learner events.

Materials

Number 3 in the IAGS Series – Supporting Choices 13-19 – will be available from January 2008. Written for anyone helping teenagers with choices about education, training and work, it provides detailed background information and sources of further information and advice.

Audits

Are your learners receiving comprehensive, impartial and well-informed advice about their future? If you haven’t already done so, take a look at Number 4 in the IAGS Series – The Northamptonshire Audit Tool for IAGS. This will help you audit your current provision create a development plan. Help to complete audits is available from:

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IAGS Strategy Summary - October 2007

How has the strategy been developed?

• Commissioned by the County 14-19 Strategy Group
• Developed by county’s multi-agency IAGS Working Group, in consultation with learning providers
• Materials piloted by learning providers

What do you need to do now?

• Identify your institution’s IAGS Champion
• Complete the IAGS Audit
• Prepare your own establishment’s IAGS Implementation Plan
• Contribute to preparation of 14-19 Area’s IAGS Implementation Plan
• Identify support needed from IAGS Menu (below)

At any stage you may access any of the following:

Support

• Email support iags@connexions-northamptonshire.org.uk
• Consultancy and support for curriculum, organisational and staff development
• Guidance on implementing the learner entitlement

Materials and products:

• Northamptonshire Audit for IAGS
• XPLORE IAGS sections
• IAGS website for Northants
• Leaflets and materials to improve young people, parents and practitioner understanding of labour market information (LMI)
• Leaflets and materials to improve understanding of the new Diplomas
• Practitioner information and guidance on giving IAGS

Training and events:

• Good practice conferences and events
• Tutoring for Transition train-the-trainers INSET
• Nationally accredited training for managers and coordinators of Careers Education and Guidance (at certificate and diploma level, plus university certificates of attendance for those part-attending courses)
• Annual IAGS Resources Fair for providers and partners (7 May 2008)

Accreditation for provision:

• Career Mark 5 framework and accreditation process

Ongoing development of IAGS in Northamptonshire

• The county’s IAGS Support Team will support individual learning providers and area groups, including Diploma Gateway 2 submissions
• County’s multi-agency IAGS Working Group will continue to produce support and guidance materials
• Ongoing good practice workshops will showcase possible approaches to IAGS
• Learning Providers rating themselves as ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ will be requested to consider achieving the regional quality award, Career Mark
• The 14-19 County Partnership regards IAGS as an essential element of the full learner entitlement. It will require IAGS to be properly addressed within Diploma Gateway submissions.

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For further information, please email:

iags@connexions-northamptonshire.org.uk