The impact of a new law which forces schools to allow training organisations the chance to speak to pupils about technical qualifications and apprenticeships will be reviewed by the Department for Education.
The government has commissioned the Association of Employment and Learning Providers, a sector body that represents training companies, to carry out the review, launched to help the DfE “understand more” about the effect of the duty, which came into effect in January.
Under the new law, dubbed “the Baker Clause” because it was orchestrated by former education secretary Lord Baker, every school must give training providers and colleges access to every pupil in years 8 to 13, so they can find out about non-academic routes.
Schools must also publish a policy statement on their websites, detailing how to arrange access, which premises or facilities can be used, and the grounds for granting or refusing requests.
Every school has had to obey the duty since January 2, but many have been slow on the uptake. A Schools Week investigation in January found that only two of the 10 largest multi-academy trusts in England had fully complied with the Baker Clause.
Ministers have pledged to take action against schools which flout the new law. In March, Anne Milton used her column in FE Week to urge colleges and training companies to report non-compliant schools, and last month, Lord Baker told Schools Week that interventions in schools had already begun.
The AELP is asking colleges and training companies to fill in a survey about the impact of the new law by June 12.
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