Martyn Jones

Labour Party | Clwyd South

Careers Wales to undergo tough new inspections

A new Education Bill will be put before Parliament today that would offer the Chief Inspector for Education and Training new powers to properly inspect Careers Wales, Wales’ Careers Service, which currently lacks adequate levels of scrutiny. 

In Wales, careers services are currently provided by a number of careers companies which together make up Careers Wales. While Careers Wales is currently inspected by the Chief Inspector for Education and Training in Wales (CIETW), these inspection arrangements are out of line with all other areas of inspection in Wales, thus limiting the Chief Inspector’s powers.

Under new guidelines, the remit of the Chief inspector would be extended to properly scrutinise Careers Wales in the same manner that the inspectorate would inspect a school or college. 

This aspect of the Bill has been welcomed with cross-party praise, citing the importance of properly scrutinising Careers Wales, which it was agreed now plays an increasingly important role within Wales. 

Commenting on the Bill, Martyn Jones said:

"The Bill presented before parliament today offers some major changes to the education system that will hopefully serve to free our schools from the unnecessary bureaucracy that hinders them getting on with the job they set out to do – delivering high quality education and care to our children.

“By transferring these new powers to the Welsh Assembly, and the extension of the inspector’s remit to include Careers Wales, this now establishes clearer, stronger lines of accountability."