Addressing the needs of each young person
Learners have different careers guidance needs at different stages. Careers programmes should help learners navigate their concerns about any barriers to career progression. In addition, opportunities should be tailored to the needs of each learner, including any additional needs of vulnerable and disadvantaged learners, young people with SEND and those who are absent.
What good looks like
A school, special school, college or provider's careers programme should actively seek to challenge misconceptions and stereotypical thinking, showcase a diverse range of role models and raise aspirations.
- Schools should keep systematic records of the participation of learners in all aspects of their careers programme, including the individual advice given to each pupil and any subsequent agreed decisions.
- For learners who change schools during the secondary phase, information about participation and the advice given previously should be integrated into a learner’s records, where this information is made available. Records should begin to be kept from the first point of contact or from the point of transition.
- All learners should have access to these records and use them ahead of any key transition points to support their next steps and career development.
- Schools, special school, college and providers should collect, maintain and use accurate data for each learner on their aspirations, intended and immediate education, and training or employment destinations to inform personalised support.
- Schools, special school, college and providers should use sustained and longer-term destinations data as part of their evaluation process and use alumni to support their careers programme.
The resources below are designed to support you with Gatsby Benchmark 3. To explore all of the Gatsby Benchmarks in greater depth, download the toolkit that best aligns with your setting.
This guidance provides Careers Leaders with steps to map and enhance their current careers provision that is underpinned by learning outcomes to support learners to make aspirational and informed decisions, make effective and sustained transitions and to develop career readiness skills.
Maintain detailed records of every pupil’s involvement in the careers programme, including any one-to-one advice they have received, and decisions made. This should include insights into career options, decisions and aspirations. For pupils with education, health and care plans (EHCPs), annual review information can also be included.
Collect accurate, up-to-date data on each learner’s aspirations and intended destination to inform personalised careers provision, particularly for learners at risk of disengagement/NEET. Ensure that systems include information and detail from any EHCP process or any other relevant multi-agency support.
Make effective use of your learners’ careers readiness data to identify disadvantage or vulnerability. Access this handy Future Skills Questionnaire (FSQ) Checklist for support with learner engagement and sharing the FSQ and the Help Centre article.
Use Compass+ to keep systematic records of learners’ participation in career activities, and advice given. Collect and analyse data on aspirations, destinations and career readiness to provide personalised support.
Organise activities that introduce learners to a wide range of role models and career paths from diverse industries and backgrounds. Actively challenge misconceptions and raise learners’ aspirations by presenting various career options. Use the Alumni section in Compass+, under the Interests and destinations tab in the Learner Profile, to record contact details and consent from learners who wish to join your alumni and contribute to the delivery of careers in your school or special school.
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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OnTrack+ Practice Guide
OnTrack+ provides early insight within Compass+ to help schools and specialist settings recognise learners who may benefit from additional support.
This guidance outlines how to embed an evidence‑informed process for early identification and intervention, ensuring learners receive the right support at the right time while maintaining robust, responsible data practice.
Compass Evaluation
The Compass evaluation has been updated in response to the updated Gatsby Benchmarks and statutory guidance.
Dream Job
This resource has been collated by Green Corridor College to support understanding around jobs for young people in SEND group 1 and is part of the My Skills My Future programme.
DPD Core Values
This resource developed by DPD is part of the My Skills My Future programme and is aimed at SEND group 1 young people.
Careers Education Information Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) and Transitions in Focus: A guide to support vision impaired children and young people
Thomas Pocklington Trust (TPT) has a range of useful resources for careers leaders and practitioners working with blind and partially sighted students in mainstream secondary schools and colleges.
Understanding how to effectively evaluate your careers provision
This resource helps Careers Leaders effectively evaluate their careers provision using feedback from learners, parents and carers, subject staff and other staff who support learners (including Careers Advisers) to increase its impact. This resource also supports Careers Leaders to:
- Collect, maintain and use accurate data for each learner on their aspiration, intended and immediate education, and training or employment destinations to inform personalised support (Benchmark 3)
- Use longer-term data (including destinations data) as part of their evaluation process (Benchmark 3)
Vocational Profiling
Supporting delivery of the Gatsby Benchmark and CDI Careers Framework.
My Skills My Future
This programme has been collated from resources across our partners and network to support young people with SEND under the 2 groups identified in the SEND toolkit. It contains lessons around employability skill development , employer projects and engagement videos all to support young people in their next steps.
Amazing Apprenticeships Resources
Amazing Apprenticeships is a leading organisation in the education sector, working with schools, colleges and employers, tackling misconceptions and promoting the benefits of apprenticeships and technical education.
They work closely with the Department for Education and a wide range of other partners and stakeholder organisations in England and internationally, to ensure that more individuals and businesses can access the benefits of apprenticeships.
Animated film explaining what apprenticeships are and their benefits, watch here!
My Journey, My Future
This programme is focused on the different stages of transition experienced by young people on the journey from education to the world of work.
Engaging education leaders in the peer-to-peer review process
Resources to help you understand the value of taking part in a peer-to-peer review, or to support education leaders in engaging meaningfully with the process.
Looked After Children (Children in Care): Careers in Personal Education Plan
Personal Education Plan Careers Resources