Career guidance in England: retrospect and prospect

ABSTRACT

This paper tackles three challenges: first, to sketch the history of career guidance provision in England over the last 25 years; second, to identify what the current structure of career guidance in England is; and finally, to analyse the key issues and challenges which career guidance in England now faces. Whilst its earlier history in this field was in step with the other constituent countries of the United Kingdom, the path taken by England in more recent times (notably the last decade) has diverged; this divergence being exacerbated by a relentless quest for target achievement. England now stands alone in eschewing an all-age guidance service. It is argued that the current situation in England is a fretwork of polarities across which policy is stretched, leading to tension and incoherence.