Ofsted report finds careers advice for girls to be ‘weak’

An Ofsted report published on 12 April 2011 tiled ‘Girls’ career aspirations’ has described how some girls are receiving ‘weak’ careers education, making it difficult for them to make properly informed choices about courses and careers, often leading them to choose ‘stereotypical’ careers, without consideration for other, more challenging alternatives.

In gathering data for the report, Ofsted inspectors visited 16 primary schools, 25 secondary schools, including 13 single-sex girls’ schools, and spoke to female learners from 10 colleges, as well as contacting 36 businesses linked to 12 schools.

In most of the schools visited, not enough was being done to promote girls taking risks in challenging vocational stereotypes, instead, a narrow range of gender-stereotypical work placements dominated choices in almost all the schools visited. The report describes how ‘of the 1,725 examples of work placements for young women collected from school records, only 164 represented non-stereotypical experiences’.

Nor did many girls aged 11-14 have a good knowledge or understanding of how choices about courses and careers influenced pay and progression. Alarmingly, many of the girls interviewed thought they could encounter discrimination if they worked in a male-dominated occupation. Furthermore, many girls suggested they ‘would like to visit a workplace and see a woman doing the job successfully before choosing it for themselves’.

Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Christine Gilbert, said:

'It is encouraging that most of the girls inspectors spoke with were open to the possibility of pursuing careers that challenge stereotypes. What is worrying is that all too often they follow courses and qualifications that don’t give them these opportunities in practice.

'Schools need to develop more opportunities for young women to meet professionals working in non-stereotypical roles, and to learn more about what the job entails through diverse work placements.

'Schools should also consider ways in which mentoring could be used more extensively to support young women in overcoming barriers to achievement.'

The report and executive summary can both be downloaded from the Ofsted website.