Linking curriculum learning to careers
As part of the school’s programme of careers education, all teachers should link curriculum learning with careers. Subject teachers should highlight the progression routes for their subject and the relevance of the knowledge and skills developed in their subject for a wide range of career pathways
What good looks like
- Every year, in every subject, every pupil should have opportunities to learn how the knowledge and skills developed in that subject help people gain entry to, and be more effective workers within, a wide range of careers.
- Careers should form part of the school’s ongoing staff development programme for teachers and all staff who support learners.
The resources below are designed to support you with Gatsby Benchmark 4. To explore all of the Gatsby Benchmarks in greater depth, download the toolkit that best aligns with your setting.
Encourage teachers to show learners how their subject connects to career opportunities or progression pathways. This includes explaining potential job roles, industries, and career or progression pathways where the skills and knowledge from their subject are relevant. This resource helps Careers Leaders to embed careers in the curriculum.
Make careers a part of the school, special school, college or provider's ongoing staff development programme. Provide teachers with the tools and knowledge to effectively link their subject areas to career opportunities, helping them bring real-world relevance into their lessons. Explore the free and funded training offer for all staff (including teaching staff and SENCOs).
Increase staff confidence in understanding pathways. Encourage all staff to complete the free online course, Teachers Part 1: Understanding Career Pathways. Support the SENCO and wider SEND team to complete the free online SENCO: Understanding Pathways and Career Opportunities course. Both available via The Careers & Enterprise Academy.
Support all staff to highlight the relevance of their subjects and make links from their curriculum. Encourage staff to access the guide and slide deck for their subject, to engage learners in learning and highlight where your subject can take them in the future. Staff supporting young people with SEND are encouraged to access the My Journey, My Future and the My Skills My Future resources to make effective transitions.
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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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.
Into Film: Classroom Resources
Into Film have developed a wide range of engaging, curriculum‑ready materials designed to help young people explore the breadth of opportunities in the screen industries.
Together, they provide practical activities, industry insights and clear pathways that support learners in developing skills, discovering careers and taking their next steps into the world of film, TV, games and beyond.
Below you will find further details, descriptions and links to specific resources.
Understanding how to embed careers in the curriculum
This resource helps Careers Leaders to embed careers in the curriculum by supporting teaching staff to:
- highlight the relevance of their subject and pathways to the world of work and careers
- make links to careers from the curriculum
- embed curriculum learning in the context of the world of work
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.
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.
Curriculum Audit Tool
The purpose of this curriculum audit tool is to enable a whole institution view of where, throughout the curriculum, knowledge is being delivered and evidence is being gathered against the Universal career related learning outcomes.
My Learning My Future: ‘Careers Leader’ Guide
This guide is for ‘Careers Leader’ and is to accompany the subject specific My Learning My Future resources. There is also a PowerPoint already scripted to help you deliver a short training session to all staff on how to use these resources.
My Learning My Future: Hair and Beauty
The My Learning, My Future resources aim to increase learner engagement by showing how subjects connect to careers and the world of work.
My Learning My Future: Maths
The My Learning, My Future resources aim to increase learner engagement by showing how subjects connect to careers and the world of work.
Line Manager Guide: Careers for Apprentices
A guide to support independent training providers working with employers to deliver high quality careers within apprenticeships. This short guide sets out how employers can help contribute to delivery, providing top tips for helping to meet the Gatsby benchmarks.