What good looks like
Every student and their parents should have access to good quality information about future study options and labour market opportunities. They will need the support of an informed adviser to make the best use of available information.
- By the age of 14, all pupils should have accessed and used information about all career paths and the labour market to inform their own decisions on study options.
- During their study programme all students should access and use information about all career paths and the labour market to inform their own decisions about study options.
- Parents should be encouraged to access and use information about labour markets and future study options to inform their support to their children.
Why this matters
Access to up-to-date career and labour market information is important for social mobility. Information about pathways, opportunities, growth areas and alumni’s successful transitions helps to connect students to a positive future.
Providing detailed information about all pathways, relevant courses, opportunities, labour market understanding and supporting students to make useful networks strengthens students’ capacity to make informed decision and positive transitions.
Careers Leaders: Getting started with BM2
Ensure all stakeholders understand key LMI and progression pathways nationally and locally so that they are confident with signposting and talking to students & parents/carers about career and labour market information.
Make sure you are compliant with statutory guidance and review your website and resources to ensure you cover all pathways and engage the interests and meet the needs of all students.
Training: All Careers Leaders require Outstanding training
For further support with Benchmark 1 register for our fully funded Careers Leader training
Download our Training Catalogue which includes all the information you need and a helpful comparison guide on the 11 high-quality Training Providers we work with. Here you will be able to choose the right course to suit you and your development, so that you can embed a successful careers programme in your school/college.
Once you have chosen the right course and Training Provider for you, you are all set to register!
Careers in Context: Can Do approaches
It is critical that students are supported, particularly in key transition moments, to understand opportunities and the changing labour market and how this could impact the shape of their current plans. Students and parents/carers should feel confident that they are equipped with the information needed to make informed and positive choices at key transition points.
Opportunity:
- Ensure students, staff, parents/carers are aware of the new opportunities and challenges of the changing labour market and address assumptions and misconceptions.
How:
- Prioritise working with your LEP through your Enterprise Adviser and/or Enterprise. Coordinator to review how and when accurate LMI is shared. You may need to do this more frequently to account for the fast-changing landscape.
- Consider also working with your Careers Adviser to ensure LMI is up to date and is matched to student needs.
Education Leaders and Governors:
Education Leaders and Governors: For further information on each Benchmark, to support you in your role, please see the Education Leader, Secondary and College Governor Guides
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You're Hired! Standout CVs
Download 10 free activities from the practical guide, 'You're Hired! Standout CVs' by Corinne Mills, to help your students write their first CV.
Plus, find out how this book from Trotman Indigo Publishing will help you achieve an outstanding Ofsted rating for your careers curriculum with our handy Gatsby Benchmark mapping guide.
Year 10 AET and EKFB MFL resource
These resources have been created by curriculum subject experts from Academies Enterprise Trust through collaboration with EKFB to engage and support students in learning by placing teaching points in the context of the world of work.
Xello (Cascaid)
Xello is an engaging online program that prepares students for post-secondary success in academics, career and life. With Xello, you’ll have everything you need to help your students build the skills and knowledge to create actionable plans for the future, regardless of their chosen pathway.
What’s Next? - Free online course
The University of London Careers Service have developed a new free, impartial and accurate online careers course resource for school and college students (aged 16-18), to help them learn more and make good, well-informed career decisions about their post-18 careers options.
What is an Entrepreneur? SEND activity
Developed by the team in the Black Country Careers Hub this short resource is designed to support young people with SEND to understand what an entrepreneur is. This resource features in the My Skills My Future programme.
What is a key growth sector?
Developed by Inspiring Worcestershire.
Learning more about Worcestershire’s key growth sectors will enable you to understand a variety of important information which could aid you in the decision-making process surrounding your potential career pathway and the choices you make during the remainder of your journey through education.
What do recruiters really think of your CV?
Curious as to what recruiters really think about your CV? Learn how they look at things so that you can approach your job search in the right way.
Virtual Work Experience – Barclays
Barclays virtual work experience gives students the opportunity to find out what it is like to work in financial services and the range of job roles and core transferable skills which are used within a bank. LifeSkills also has a range of virtual work experience resources for students to use within a classroom environment to help upskill them for jobs across any industry.
Virtual Work Experience - Youth Employment UK
Explore Youth Employment UK’s Virtual Work Experience Programmes, designed to introduce young people to the world of work.
University Applications and Clearing
Guide students to the perfect university course with free resources from Trotman, designed to accompany HEAP 2025 – the leading university course directory!
Help your students navigate clearing with confidence and ease with our collection of free resources!
Understanding Apprenticeships
Download 4 free apprenticeship presentations to use in your careers lessons, from Ben Rowland, author of Amazon bestseller 'Understanding Apprenticeships'. These practical presentations to introduce your students to this potential pathway after school to help them receive a balanced careers education.
Plus, find out how 'Understanding Apprenticeships' will help you meet the Gatsby Benchmarks in your careers curriculum with our handy Gatsby Benchmark mapping guide.
Transition Guide from Primary to Secondary: enhancing careers education and supporting parental engagement
This resource is designed to support Careers Leaders and other staff involved in the transition process from Key Stage 2 into Key Stage 3, exploring opportunities to embed careers activities and parental engagement across the full range of transition opportunities.
It takes you through the three phases:
- Decision making (Y4,5,6) while children and parents /carers are still considering their options
- Decision made (Y6) once the children have been allocated their secondary school
- Started (Y7) once the children have started their secondary school.