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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The National School & College Leaver Festival
Get ready for amazing experiences at these careers festivals in both London and Birmingham!
We’re bringing you and your students all the exciting opportunities out there—think Apprenticeships, Further & Higher Education, entry-level jobs, and so much more. This is your chance to connect face-to-face with the coolest employers, colleges, universities, and training providers in England! Dive into an interactive atmosphere where your students future possibilities are just waiting to be discovered.
Vocational Profiling
Supporting delivery of the Gatsby Benchmark and CDI Careers Framework.
Financial Literacy Curriculum from FT FLIC
The Financial Times charity, the Financial Literacy & Inclusion Campaign (FT FLIC), offers a free financial literacy curriculum for secondary schools, featuring six 50-minute lessons per year group. It supports students to make informed financial decisions, manage financial risks and prepare for the world of work.
Aquatic Science Careers: Lesson Activities & Videos
Using this resource, you can dive into the thrilling world of aquatic science! Discover what it's like to work in this dynamic field and hear inspiring career journeys from our passionate colleagues at Cefas.
Exploring Careers in Local Councils
Developed by WMJobs.co.uk, this flexible suite of resources connects young people to careers in local councils and is great for integrating into existing career programs. The resources are designed to support students from the beginning of their secondary education journey, with a particular emphasis on Key Stage 3 (ages 11–14).
National Careers Service
The National Careers Service provides high quality, free and impartial careers advice, information and guidance. The service is available all year round to anyone aged 13+ no matter what stage of the careers journey they are at.
Passport to Retail
Developed by Inspiring Worcestershire. Passport to Retail has been designed with the student’s progression at the forefront. This brilliant project will take students on a tour around the Retail industry, learning about key areas from customer services to stock rotation to build their knowledge and skill in preparation for the workplace.
Early Years Careers
Working with small children is a big deal.
Developed by the Department for Education as part of the ‘Do Something BIG, work with small children’ campaign, this resource includes information for young people on all areas of early years and childcare work, the different routes into the sector and real-life stories.
Careers in Prosthetics and Orthotics
A range of resources developed by The British Association of Prosthetists and Orthotists.
The National Apprenticeship Shows
These FREE to attend events showcase all levels of Apprenticeships, from entry level all the way through to Higher and Degree. This offers visitors the opportunity to engage with each region’s top Employers, Colleges, Universities, and Training Providers in a face-to-face, interactive environment.
Careers Advice Toolkit: Apprenticeships and Technical Education
Our digital Careers Advice Toolkit is a one stop shop, providing young people with engaging employability skills and careers information, including access to Cat, an AI careers chatbot.
Causeway and STAR Academies - GCSE Curriculum Resources
Developed by Causeway in partnership with Star Academies.
These resources have been created by curriculum subject experts to engage students as practically as possible in fully resourced classroom-based packs which teachers can use to showcase the application of curriculum topics to real job roles.