Careers advice severely lacking in schools, poll shows

A poll has shown that thousands of young people believe their future careers could be hampered because of a lack of guidance from teachers.

Almost one in four young people said they had not been told that poor A-level choices could deny them access to certain courses and careers, the poll of 6,300 youngsters found.

The survey, commissioned by The Student Room, found that just under a quarter of young people complained that they had not received enough advice about how the subject choices they made at A-level, BTEC or other qualification could affect their future options.

One student told researchers: "It wasn't made clear which subjects were needed for which university course. Since I didn't know which degree I wanted to do I wish teachers had helped me to choose A-level subjects which would allow me access to the most courses as now I am slightly limited."

Another said: "Teachers did not explain that dropping, for example maths, would stop you being able to enter a wide variety of degree courses. Not one teacher tried to stop me dropping it when I did, something which I regret."

The survey also reveals that more than three quarters (77 per cent) of young people said that there was an expectation that they would go to university rather than pick an alternative training option.