Executive Summary of the 
IAG Audit in Bedfordshire
In December 2008 
Bedfordshire 14-19 Partnership 
requested an audit of IAG to be undertaken 
via IGEN Ltd. 
project managers for:
DCSF Diploma Support Programme.
The audit was to focus on the IAG support 
for students entering National Diploma 
Learning using the National Standards 
for IAG.
The visit to inform the audit concluded in early April and a draft audit report has been produced.
In conducting the audit visits were made to:
•2 Upper Schools
•1 FE College
•1 Special School
•Connexions senior managers
•Central Bedfordshire Council
•14-19 team

As a result of the visits the following staff were involved in discussions:
•LA Lead on IAG – Assistant Director of Integrated Services
•Head of Integrated Processes
•14-19 coordinators
•LDD Lead
•staff supporting CEG/IAG in schools
•staff involved in marketing communications 
•Senior Manager for Connexions Services 
•Quality Assurance Lead

In schools and college:
•head teacher 
•students services manager
•diploma lead in the school
•career coordinator
•tutors
•lead on inclusion
•a small group of students
•connexions advisers in schools

Bedfordshire as a whole is emerging from 
a restructuring of services in relation to the 
development of 2 unitary authorities replacing 
the original County Council
Issues and recommendations:
There are many challenges involved in this process including the development of 2 discrete Connexions Services and the application of support for students wishing to enter a National Diploma.
Whilst the challenges remain there are also opportunities to use this situation to construct IAG services which will benefit from a complete new start approach built on the good practice which went before.
These are some of the good practice and 
areas for further development.
Good practice was identified in the following areas:
•The development of the Learning Transformation Board with IAG as one of the issues is an innovative way of ensuring IAG is on the agenda

•The work of the Integrated Services in working with Middle Schools to ensure earlier interventions of IAG in support of Diploma Choice

•The Audit of Connexions Services against the National Standards for IAG to identify service improvements

•The extension of self audit against the National Standards for IAG to Upper Schools. This should be made a priority to ensure any gaps in provision are identified and addressed

•The development of school pyramid trusts, supporting transition across tiers 

•The development of a middle school network for the promotion of a range of student services

Some areas for further development include:
The development of an IAG strategy and plan

•Development of a Workforce Development Plan 

•The clarification of roles and responsibilities 

•The adoption of a Partnership Quality Assurance framework which helps to identify best practice and drive forward service improvement

Noel McCartney
IAG Audit
Importance of IAG:
Participation - 81.4% in 06/07

Percentage achieving Level 2 at 19: 71.7% 06/07

2011 target: 82%

Percentage achieving Level 3 at 19: 49.4% 06/07

2011 target: 54%