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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My Learning My Future: Chemistry
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: Business Studies
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: Biology
The My Learning, My Future resources aim to increase learner engagement by showing how subjects connect to careers and the world of work.
Careers in the curriculum. What works?
The Gatsby report identified eight benchmarks of good career guidance, one of which was linking curriculum to careers. Careers in the curriculum describes a range of interventions which allow students to encounter career learning as part of their everyday school curriculum, but what impact is it having and what are the lessons for best practice?
Please note this research refers to the original Gatsby Benchmarks. To find out more about the updates to the benchmarks (live from September 2025) please click here.
Gatsby Benchmark Toolkit: Colleges and ITPs
The Gatsby Benchmark Toolkit for Colleges and ITPs provides practical information and guidance on the updated Gatsby Benchmarks.
Barclays LifeSkills
Access free online interactive resources, schemes of learning, ready-made lessons and work experience opportunities – and build them into your progressive careers programme.
Guidance for Middle Schools
Completing the Compass evaluation and meaningfully achieving the eight Gatsby Benchmarks
This guidance takes Middle School Careers Leaders through how to respond to the sub benchmark questions when completing a Compass evaluation on Compass or Compass+.
WOW Show careers guides
Watch two exciting new WOW Show programmes about careers in the NHS – designed for home schooling and beyond.
Your Money Matters
This resource has been designed for use with young people age 14 – 16 in England and covers topics including spending and saving, borrowing, debt, insurance, student finance & future planning.
You can access the curriculum mapped textbook funded by Martin Lewis, founder of MoneySavingExpert.com
Financial Education Planning Frameworks
This resource aims to support the planning, teaching, and progression of financial education by setting out the key areas of financial knowledge, skills and attitudes, across core themes.
A Future STEM
A Future STEM is a collection of STEM subject careers activities linked to employability skills.
Morrisby
Whole-School Careers Guidance Platform with research tools to help students age 11 upwards discover the world of work and pathways forward. Morrisby contains the most advanced psychometric assessments and comprehensive tools to make Compass+ and Gatsby tracking easier.