AGCAS/GTI Conference Parental influence on children’s academic and employment choices

Careers and Admissions – working better together Sue Young Head of Goldsmiths Careers Service Helen Kempster Careers Consultant, The Careers Group, University of London (based at Goldsmiths Careers Service)

Objectives This workshop will explore how careers services can collaborate with student recruitment and marketing teams in order to engage prospective students and parents. We will focus on the partnership between the Careers Service and Student Recruitment and Engagement at Goldsmiths, University of London as a model to discuss possible best practice and challenges in this area.

April 2013 The role of Pre-Entry Careers Consultant was created at Goldsmiths, with a remit to provide careers education, information, advice and guidance to prospective students. We will explore the strategic aims behind the creation of this role, as well as considering the practicalities of operational delivery. Participants will have the chance to consider how they work with prospective students and parents in their contexts and how they might develop their practice in this area.

Timeline Sept 2011 – started to think about all the pre- entry IAG we were being asked to do (not funded under TCG business model) Oct Conducted a survey amongst other Heads at TCG colleges, asking 2 questions:

Survey 1 What if any prospective IAG enquiries do you get? How many per week/term; what form do they take? 2 What information/resources do you produce, if any?

Survey Outcome: ‘the general trend is an increase in the number and type of pre-entry activities’

Timeline Nov 2011 – Took up Head of Service post at Goldsmiths Nov 11-Nov 12 – Started monitoring activity Nov Started to have conversations with college line-manager, Pro-Warden SLD, about concept of Pre-Entry post

Timeline Dec 12 – Continued those conversations with the Head of Admissions, Marketing, Outreach & Recruitment (now Assoc Director – Student Recruitment & Engagement) Jan 2013– Wrote the first draft of the Pre- Entry Careers Consultant JD Feb 2013 – Paper to SMT April 2013 – Pre-Entry CC recruited 0.4

Timeline Dec 2013 – First report for SMT

Report for SMT “The Pre-Entry Careers Consultant was a new initiative created to meet the increased demand for careers information and advice for potential students considering higher education. Careers education, information, advice and guidance (CEIAG) in schools, particularly in the state school sector, is in a state of massive decline.

Report for SMT - 2 The abolishment of the Connexions Service has further reduced the provision of careers advice for young people at a time when this has become more important than ever. Much of the Outreach activities at Goldsmiths involve working with schools that cannot provide their students with advice about the benefits of higher education; offering guidance on choosing higher level study; and giving information on pathways to careers. This is a fundamental necessity when supporting activities in schools.”

The Role Focus: Outreach Activities – Workshops – One-to-one guidance – Advising and training colleagues and others (including Student Ambassadors) – Resources – Recruitment events (including webchats)

In numbers… Academic year workshops 819 participants So far in : 12 workshops 282 participants

Content Demystifying the graduate employment market Careers with a degree in… Post-16/-18 Options Degree vs Apprenticeship

Challenges Mapping existing provision Changes in structure: MOR > AMOR > SRE Integrating feedback and evaluation structures

Benefits Greater collaboration and stronger relationship between Careers Service and Student Recruitment & Engagement Opportunity to better prepare students for higher education

Future plans Goldsmiths Progression Scheme and Realising Opportunities Development of a new Pre-16 Outreach Programme

Taking this forward… What does your service already do? What could your service do in the future?

Any questions?