Talking Futures: Bringing parents into career conversations
Parents and carers are influential on their child’s choices and career decisions and therefore are key players in shaping what their best next step might be. In partnership with the Gatsby Foundation, we have developed Talking Futures: a campaign to help parents have more constructive and informed careers conversations with their child. This includes a suite of resources designed to support schools and colleges to connect parents into their careers programme as well as equipping parents directly through tailored resources.
Approaching parental engagement strategically
In recent research, 67 per cent of Careers leaders told us they wanted to see parental engagement in careers approached strategically and inclusively across the whole school or college.
We understand that engaging parents about careers will require support from all members of staff, especially the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) who will need to advocate and guide a whole school or college approach to identify opportunities to enhance current practice.
Support for schools, colleges and special schools
There are several key resources available that have been successfully tested to help institutions like your own enhance parental engagement:
- Talking Futures Toolkit - gain the foundation knowledge to amplify parents’ role in careers-decision making
- Parent learning journey - map what parents need to know and when, against what has been planned for young people in your careers programme
- Engaging SLT - a presentation to share with your senior leadership team to explore how to embed parental engagement in your careers programme
Parental Engagement training modules
Learn how you can effectively engage families in your careers provision by completing our new training designed with Causeway Education.
Find out moreTalking Futures resources for Careers Leaders
Support parents’ role in careers decision-making and increase their participation in activities at your school, special school or college.
Find out moreIt’s essential that all staff can provide support and resources for each student and their parents which advise them on the career opportunities associated with their course.Careers Leader, FE College
Be part of this year’s campaign
We are developing more resources and guidance to help Careers Leaders to take a strategic and embedded approach to parental engagement in careers.
If you’re a Careers Leader...
Sign up to the Careers Leader newsletter to receive regular updates about Talking Futures and learn more about these principles.
Contact us at talkingfutures@careersandenterprise.co.uk to share success stories of parental engagement in careers taking place in your setting.
If you’re an Education Leader or Governor...
Sign up to the Education Leader Digest or Governors newsletter to stay informed about the Talking Futures campaign, policy updates and further information to improve student outcomes.
A parents’ toolkit for conversations
The Gatsby Foundation has developed a suite of resources directly for parents to help them have more informed and constructive conversations with their child about the different training and education pathways available to them. You can support parents with their own learning at home by signposting them to the Talking Futures website: www.talkingfutures.org.uk
Get in touch
If you have any questions regarding parental engagement in careers education, please contact a member of the team.
