Before the election was called I was finalising a report to put to ministers on career guidance in schools.
The report is based on my work spanning nearly two decades which started out researching barriers to career success encountered by our most disadvantaged pupils.
Following on from my initial research work, I found there was a huge gap in career provision in schools so in 2010, I founded ‘If Chloe Can’ to provide career advice to school pupils.
Firstly by providing role model magazines featuring stories of successful women to inspire young girls - then along with the National Youth Theatre we created a careers play, which performed across the country in packed out theatres.
It continued to grow and became a charity which goes into schools and works with both girls and boys.
Its founding beliefs are that it doesn’t matter where you come from, it is where you are going that matters and by focusing on goal setting, nurturing confidence, assertiveness and resilience pupils can plan a career path for themselves.
It is led by professional trainers with a wealth of experience and is supported by more than 200 role models including Debbie Moore (the founder of Pineapple Dance Studios and the first woman in the UK to set up a PLC); Jo Salter (Britain’s first female fast jet pilot); Eileen Collins (astronaut and first woman to command a space shuttle), Jacqueline Wilson (author), Christine Lamb (war correspondent) and Dr Ahmad (GP and TV medical reporter).
Many schools up and down the country asked to be involved – including here in our constituency.
This report will include all the learnings, data and feedback from teachers and career professionals – as well as pupil feedback and self-assessments - on how best to deliver career guidance to school pupils.
This is about empowering our young children, improving their mental health, and providing them with guidance they need to make the right choices going forward.
As I return home from Westminster for the summer, I will bring together the last few pieces of information and then in the autumn, present it to the Education Secretary Bridget Philipson and officials in the Department for Education.
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