An operational guide is already available for organisations wanting to supply information to the resource
A single database will hold details of all education and training courses for older teenagers across the country, under plans published by the Department for Education before the election campaign.
From September this year, organisations providing education and training courses would be required to supply "up to date and reliable" information to help young people plan their future. It will be made available as open data and presented to "young people, schools and parents in user-friendly ways".
Nick Boles, the skills minister of the pre-election government, said: "This government is equipping all young people, whether they choose to take an academic or vocational path, with the skills they need to succeed.
"This can only happen if they have access to the latest, most dependable information on the opportunities open to them, which is why the post-16 courses database is so important.
"I am confident that, once it is up and running, this resource will become one of the main routes through which young people find out about their options and make key decisions about their future."
Curriculum requirements
The post-16 courses database follows the introduction of a new curriculum for the age group and a requirement for those without adequate maths and English qualifications to continue studying until the age of 18.
Before the last Parliament was dissolved, ministers also established a careers and enterprise company to encourage greater collaboration between schools and employers and, therefore, deliver better careers information.
An operational guide has already been published, setting out the information education and training providers must supply for the database.
The open database is expected to boast a comprehensive list of 2016-17 course information by the end of September this year. Any organisation will then be able to use the information hosted on the database and present the post-16 options available to young people on their website.
Pictured: Department for Education (DfE) by Paul Clarke © | paulclarke.com
