SCHOOLS and businesses across York and North Yorkshire have been taking part in a pilot project to improve careers advice in the classroom.

Funded by North Yorkshire County Council and the York, North Yorkshire and East Riding Local Enterprise Partnership, the pilot has involved 20 secondary schools.

This has led to a close working relationship between schools and local employers with careers guidance increasingly woven into the curriculum.

It also places North Yorkshire well ahead in meeting the Government’s recent schools careers strategy and statutory requirements which will require workplace experience for every pupil.

Students at King James School in Knaresborough, one of the schools taking part, have been given many chances to learn about the world of work by meeting employers, with lessons held in the work-place, and by the school bringing in employers to speak about their industry.

Career guidance is embedded in the curriculum rather than an add-on – from the earliest stage of their secondary education, students are made very aware of where their studies might lead.

Lucy Hazelton, career and alternative curriculum manager at King James, said: “Supporting students to explore future pathways, raise knowledge and understanding of career areas and demonstrating career links to curriculum subjects can be highly motivational and raise the aspirations of our students."

The CEC, working with North Yorkshire Business and Education Partnership (NYBEP) and the LEP is now bringing employers and schools together right across North Yorkshire to support young people.

The pilot project called 'putting the learner first – progression for success’ has led to a whole range of initiatives across schools to bring careers into the curriculum.

These also include each curriculum faculty at Harrogate Grammar School having a careers ambassador; and the universities of Hull and York holding workshops in Selby High School.

Cllr Patrick Mulligan, North Yorkshire’s executive member for schools, said: “There has been a real buy-in and a great deal of enthusiasm from employers and from schools as a result of this pilot.

“Through day-to-day experience of work and employment in the curriculum, young people can understand why they have to learn the things they do and this can only help to raise achievement. We now have a model to roll out across the county.”