These links will take you to detailed information about the education and training system that is relevant to career development. Education and Training in Britain provides an overview of education and training in the UK, including the framework of national qualifications. A few colleges concentrate on courses for a particular industry, but most offer a range of subjects. There are also special residential colleges for people with special needs who require considerable support. Most also offer short professional updating courses for appropriately qualified people.
Many people prefer the idea of learning at work to learning at a college or university.
In Scotland, this role is performed by the Scottish Learning Network which is administered by local enterprise companies. Parents may feel reluctant to get involved in careers education and guidance because of their limited personal experience of the world of work, or their lack of knowledge about all of the opportunities that are now available to young people. This is a sensible concern, but there are still things that you can do to help. Parents are in an especially good position to help their children because they know their strengths and weaknesses, and their likes and dislikes. Your child's form tutor or the careers co-ordinator should be able to tell you how your child is doing with his or her careers education and guidance, and advise you on any concerns that you have.