Encounters with further and higher education
All learners should understand the full range of learning opportunities that are available to them, including academic, technical and vocational routes. This should incorporate learning in schools, colleges, independent training providers (ITPs), universities and in the workplace.
What good looks like
Schools
- By the age of 16, every pupil should have had meaningful encounters with providers of the full range of learning opportunities, including sixth forms, colleges, universities and ITPs.
- By the age of 18, all pupils who are considering applying to higher education should have had at least two visits to higher education providers to meet staff and learners.
Further Education
- By the end of their programme of study, every learner should have had a meaningful encounter with a range of providers of learning and training that may form the next stages of their career. This should include as appropriate, further education colleges, universities and ITPs. This should include the opportunity to meet both staff and learners.
Gatsby have provided a definition of what constitutes a meaningful experience:
A meaningful experience is one in which the learner has an opportunity to explore what it is like to work in that environment, the skills valued in the workplace, recruitment processes or what it takes to be successful.
A meaningful experience will:
- Have a clear purpose, which is shared with the employer and the learner.
- Be underpinned by learning outcomes that are appropriate to the needs of the learner.
- Involve an extensive two-way interaction between learners and employees.
- Include opportunities for learners to meet a range of different people from the workplace
- Include opportunities for learners to perform a task set by the employer or produce a piece of work relevant to that workplace.
- Include feedback from the employer to learners on their work.
- Be followed by opportunities for learners to reflect on the insights, knowledge or skills gained through their experience.
Schools, colleges and ITPs can take into account any part-time work a young person may have, if it genuinely offers them a meaningful experience.
The resources below are designed to support you with Gatsby Benchmark 7. To explore all of the Gatsby Benchmarks in greater depth, download the toolkit that best aligns with your setting.
Ensure learners are supported to consider the full range of pathways with equity, including academic, technical and vocational routes. Access the Understanding how to embed a progressive approach to encounters with further and higher education resource.
Find and contact delivery organisations to support encounters with further and higher education via the CEC Provider Directory. For SEND learners, the local offer (specific to geographical region) can support with relevant options alongside multi-agency links through the EHCP process.
Encourage all staff to complete the free online course Teachers Part 1: Understanding Career Pathways via The Careers & Enterprise Academy. Signpost parents and carers to CEC resources and activities to enable effective careers conversations at home. Use the checklist in the Understanding how to embed a progressive approach to encounters with further and higher education resource.
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.
Filter by:
Category
SEND
Gatsby benchmarks
Careers Impact Themes
Key stage
Campaigns
Type
Resource type
Role
I am a...
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.
Causeway and STAR Academies - Year 7 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.
Causeway and STAR Academies - Year 9 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.
Compass Evaluation
The Compass evaluation has been updated in response to the updated Gatsby Benchmarks and statutory guidance.
Cornerstone Employer Group Case Studies - Liverpool City Region
Case study from the Cornerstone Employer Group at the Liverpool City Region Careers Hub highlighting recent work on Vocational pathways with The Regena Group, Keepmoat Homes, Jaguar Land Rover and others.
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.
Destination Data analysis example
Developed by the Career Leader at Bedford Academy this resource is an example of how destination data can be analysed and used to inform future provision.
Digital ATE Resources for Teachers and Careers Leaders
Developed in partnership with Amazing Apprenticeships, this digital resource is designed for Careers Leaders and teachers to raise awareness of apprenticeships and technical pathways through careers-specific sessions.
Educate the Educators
Tees Valley Careers Hub organised industry insight days for teachers, aligned with the region’s key growth sectors, to help them explore how their subject areas connect to real-world careers and industry demands. A suite of supporting resources is available.
Encounters with Higher and Further education - Practical ideas for achieving Gatsby Benchmark 7
This report provides practical insights from Careers Leaders about how to deliver meaningful encounters with further and higher education for young people in secondary schools, colleges and special schools. It is targeted at schools and colleges seeking ideas for how to improve their provision.
Engaging education leaders in the internal leadership review process
If you are looking to understand why you should take part in an internal leadership review, or you are supporting education leaders and senior staff to engage with the process, this collection of resources will help you get started and ensure the experience is purposeful and impactful.
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.