Careers Leaders Toolkit
Getting Up To Speed with Each Gatsby Benchmark
The Gatsby Benchmarks are a framework of 8 guidelines that have been created to define and support the best careers provision in schools and colleges.
Gatsby Benchmarks are recognised as having a key role in raising young people’s aspirations and they help careers leaders in schools develop a careers programme which enables all young people to develop the skills they need to achieve:
- Career Wellbeing
- Adaptability
- Resilience
They underpin the Department for Education's guidance to schools on how to meet their statutory responsibility for quality careers guidance.
Benchmarks 1 to 8 - What are they?
Gatsby Benchmarks have been designed to be guidelines for success. Each benchmark has a brief description followed by some useful link to support their achievement:
Benchmark 1 – A stable careers programme
Each school and college should have a stable, structured careers programme in place which is lead by a Careers Leader and is regularly reviewed. Their website should also provide information on the programme and contact details of the Career Leader.
Useful Information on GB 1 Career Planning Template What to Include on your Website Provider Access Statement Template
Benchmark 2 – Labour Market Information
All students and parents/carers should have access to high-quality and impartial information about future study options and labour market opportunities to enable students to make the best decisions for them.
Useful Information on GB 2 Recent Dorset LMI Dorset LEP Posters
Benchmark 3 – Addressing the needs of every student
Schools and colleges should keep records of student’s journey and should have in place a programme which is underpinned by inspirational encounters and activities which actively challenge stereotypes and raise aspirations
Good Practice Guide: Destinations Data Same and Different Model – SEND
Benchmark 4 – Linking curriculum to careers
Schools should adopt a strategic approach to embedding careers within their curriculum learning and ensure that students see the relevance and possible progression routes from their subjects
Useful Information on GB 4 Careers in the Curriculum: What Works?
Benchmark 5 – Encounters with employers and employees
All students should have encounters with employers and employees every year of their learning. These encounters should result in a better understanding of the workplace and the potential career paths open to them
Useful Information on GB 5 Make it Meaningful How to Engage Employers
Benchmark 6 – Experiences of workplaces
Every student should have experiences of the workplace to help broaden their understanding and exploration of career opportunities. This can take place through work visits, work shadowing and/or work experience
Work Experience: What Works?
Benchmark 7 – Encounters with further and higher education
Every student should have access to impartial information on the full range of learning opportunities available to them. Meaningful encounters with these providers cover a wide range of ways young people can learn about their post-school options. They provide off-site visits and direct interactions with key institutions, staff, and alumni.
Benchmark 8 - Personal guidance
Each student should have access to an appropriately qualified careers adviser who can support them. They should all be offered a one to one interaction by the time they are making any post 16 decisions.
Evaluation tools
You can self evaluate your institution on the areas within the Gatsby Benchmarks by using the compass tool. More information can be found here
Need more info?
If you would like support with your careers programme or the benchmarks, you can contact our Enterprise Coordinator:
Catherine Beater
Catherine.beater@bcpcouncil.gov.uk
or call the 0-19 Team Office on 01202 458988