Gatsby Benchmark 5

What good looks like 

Every student should have multiple opportunities to learn from employers about work, employment and the skills that are valued in the workplace. This can be through a range of enrichment activities including visiting speakers, mentoring and enterprise schemes, and should include students’ own part time employment where it exists.

 

  • Every year, from the age of 11, pupils should participate in at least one meaningful encounter* with an employer.
  • Every year, alongside their study programme, students in colleges should participate in at least two meaningful encounters with an employer. At least one encounter should be delivered through their curriculum area.
  • Colleges should record and take account of students’ own part time employment and the influence this has had on their development.

 

*A ‘meaningful encounter’ is one in which the student has the opportunity to learn about what work is like or what it takes to be successful in the workplace. 

 

Why this matters

 

“Links have been demonstrated between young people’s engagement with the world of work through career talks and their GCSE attainment.” Motivated to achieve: How encounters with the world of work can change attitudes and improve academic achievement – Education and Employers

 

“a young person who has four or more meaningful encounters with an employer is 86% less likely to be unemployed or not in education or training and can earn up to 22% more during their career” Motivated to achieve: How encounters with the world of work can change attitudes and improve academic achievement – Education and Employers

 

Careers Leaders:

Getting started with BM5

  • Be clear about priority careers knowledge, understanding and application based on student needs and school priorities. Use this to shape and communicate planned intent for all employer encounters.
  • Set clear learning aims and outcomes for all employer encounters by following the Making it Meaningful Checklist.
  • Refer to the LLEP Employer Engagement Guide and seek support from your Enterprise Co-ordinator in building long-lasting relationships with local businesses who can support you in the delivery of meaningful employer encounters.
  • Use the resource and support featured in the My Learning My Future and My Skills My Future Guides to encourage curriculum staff to use employer encounters which highlight the relevance of subjects and specific learning to engage students and support progress.

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!

 

Register today

Careers in Context: Can Do Approaches 

To include an activity under Benchmark 5, it must meet the following minimum requirements:

  • Learning outcomes are defined, based on the age and needs of students
  • The encounter involves two-way interaction between students and employers/employees
  • There is evidence that the student actively participated

 

Opportunity:

Maximise the value of employer encounters by setting clear learning aims linked to school priorities for all employer encounters

Practical resource and support:

  1. Consider using this template ‘Proposal’ document to make a case to SLT for time, resource, support for careers guidance
  2. Connect with providers who can support you in facilitating bespoke employer encounters to respond to the specific needs of your cohorts and region
  3. Apply the principles of the Making it Meaningful checklist to planning for all employer encounters

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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Gatsby BM1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7
SEND
Key stages
Campaigns

Work It series

Developed by the The Careers & Enterprise Company, Work It is a series of careers talks with young people, for young people. 

PDF
Gatsby BM5, 6, 7

Upskill Me

Upskill Me is a multipurpose tool enabling students to build a digital record of their achievements (both academic and extracurricular), learn about and develop in-demand soft skills, and find live opportunities to help them become better prepared for the world after school. Each students’ portfolio can be downloaded or shared into a job or UCAS application via a sharable link.

Gatsby BM1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
SEND
Key stages

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:

  1. Decision making (Y4,5,6) while children and parents /carers are still considering their options
  2. Decision made (Y6) once the children have been allocated their secondary school
  3. Started (Y7) once the children have started their secondary school.
PDF
Gatsby BM5
SEND
Key stages

The WOW Show

Take advantage of this flexible and valuable teaching tool, which offers the unique capacity to capture the attention of a wide student audience.

Gatsby BM1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8
Key stages

The Skills to Succeed Academy

These free resources have been developed by Accenture (national).

Resources are relevant, realistic training preparing learners for the entire journey of choosing the right career, finding a job and being successful in the workplace:

  • Features innovative simulations providing a safe environment for learners to practice for real life situations e.g., a job interview, first day in a new job.
  • Choose from 108 bite-sized, interactive and highly effective online learning modules and 26 downloadable activity packs to consolidate learning.

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