What good looks like
All students should understand the full range of learning opportunities that are available to them. This includes both technical and academic routes and learning in schools, colleges, universities and in the workplace.
- By the age of 16, every student should have had a meaningful encounter* with providers of the full range of educational opportunities, including sixth forms, colleges, universities and apprenticeship providers. This should include the opportunity to meet both staff and students.
- By the age of 18, all students who are considering applying for university should have had at least two visits to universities to meet staff and students.
- By the age of 18, or before the end of their programme of study, every student should have had a meaningful encounter with a range of providers of learning and training that may form the next stage of their career. This should include, as appropriate, further education colleges, higher education and apprenticeship and training providers. This should include the opportunity to meet both staff and students.
*A ‘meaningful encounter’ is one in which the student has an opportunity to explore what it is like to learn in that environment. This includes academic and vocational routes and learning in schools, colleges, universities and the workplace.
Provider access legislation
The provider access legislation is new guidance that comes into force from January 2023, which builds on Benchmark 7 and adds new specific requirements for schools. It is a key mechanism to further help learners understand and take-up, not just apprenticeships, but wider technical education options such as T-Levels and Higher Technical Qualifications.
The updated provider access legislation (PAL) specifies schools must provide at least six encounters for all their students:
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Two encounters for pupils during the ‘first key phase’ (year 8 or 9) that are mandatory for all pupils to attend
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Two encounters for pupils during the ‘second key phase’ (year 10 or 11) that are mandatory for all pupils to attend
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Two encounters for pupils during the ‘third key phase’ (year 12 or 13) that are mandatory for the school to put on but optional for pupils to attend
You will find more information on the legislation and support with promoting all pathways here.
Why this matters
- 26% of young people who received free school meals (FSM) in year 11 are not in education or employment (NEET) aged 18-24, compared to 13% of non-FSM students
- High achieving students from disadvantaged backgrounds are less likely to apply to higher education, attend a high-status university, or access high status professional jobs than similarly qualified peers from more affluent backgrounds
- FSM students make up only 16.7% of students in KS5 (16-18 years) academic pathways in comparison to 28% on vocational pathways Bit report
- 1,400 more students were in sustained EET during 2018/19 connected to the level of guidance provision that schools in the sample reported, compared to a scenario in which all schools had reported zero benchmark provision.
Careers Leaders:
Getting started with BM7
Refresh your knowledge and understanding of all pathways at key transition points:
Technical Education Pathways Resource (including options map and framework of qualifications A3 posters)
- Promoting All Pathways: Understanding the full range of learning opportunities at key transition points video resource.
Consider how you can share this information about pathways at key transition points with students, staff and parents/carers
- Coming soon: Staff Careers CPD Resource
- Help curriculum staff to understand pathways from their subject but sharing the My Learning, My Future Resources with curriculum colleagues
Refer to the Making it Meaningful checklist when planning any Benchmark 7 activity.
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!
Careers in Context: Can Do Approaches
Encounters with further education, higher education and training providers should have planned intent, delivery and impact of activities and sit within a progressive careers programme that supports positive student outcomes.
To include an activity under Benchmark 7, it must meet the following minimum requirements:
- Learning outcomes defined, based on the age and needs of students
- The encounter involves two-way interaction between students, appropriate provider staff and young people participating in this pathway
- There is evidence that the student actively participated
- There is evidence that the student has reflected on the experience and that it has shaped their thinking about future pathways
Opportunity:
- Online encounters can offer students and parents/carers the opportunity to engage with Further Education, Higher Education and training providers that they may not have considered visiting face to face.
- Students can start to learn about all pathways available to them at key transition points through employer encounters, experience of work and careers in the curriculum from Year 7. A multi-benchmark approach to employer encounters and experiences of work help students to develop their knowledge and understanding in context.
- Refer to Encounters with further and higher education for practical ideas from schools and colleges for achieving Gatsby Benchmark 7.
“If you think from a learner’s perspective, they often don’t know the connection between what they’re studying and the employment sector. There is a big jump from doing a course and being able to turn that into a pathway to a job. So bringing employers helps make the transition feel more real and accessible.”
Careers Leader, college
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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UniTasterDays.com Teachers' Guide to University Brochure
Teachers, careers colleagues and support staff: Download your FREE UniTasterDays Teachers' Guide to University brochure.
Unbox Your Future resource
These resources are taken from the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership Unbox Your Future pilot project targeting 1,500 NEET or Unknown Young People.
Why It Matters
The Why It Matters resources developed by the team at Loughborough University are designed to help students to understand where studying different subjects (both post 16 and post 18) might lead.
What is an Entrepreneur? SEND activity
Developed by the team in the Black Country Careers Hub this short resource is designed to support young people with SEND to understand what an entrepreneur is. This resource features in the My Skills My Future programme.
Explore Apprenticeships – Free Online Course
Created in partnership with The Careers & Enterprise Company, #ExploreApprenticeships is a free online course supporting young people wanting to learn more about apprenticeships as a career path.
Key worker Activities
Developed by the team at Inspiring Worcestershire Careers Hub this resource focuses on Key Workers.
Work It series
Developed by the The Careers & Enterprise Company, Work It is a series of careers talks with young people, for young people.
Careers Corner: National Literacy Trust
Developed by the National Literacy Trust as part of the words for life programme, these resources are designed for young people to boost their skills and imagine their next steps.
British Army: Apprenticeship assembly
How should you introduce the apprenticeship route to your students, so that they can start to make informed choices about their future? We challenge pre-conceptions and discover different areas of apprenticeships, some of which may surprise your pupils, using examples from across the British Army.
Social Story: Starting College SEND resource
Developed by the team at the Black Country Careers Hub this resource contains a short social story to support young people with SEND during transition. This resource features in the My Skills My Future programme.
Supported Internship Videos
Created by Inspiring Worcester Careers Hub and NDTi.
This resource is a series of short animated videos, explaining what a supported internship is to different audiences.
Compass
Compass is a free digital product that helps you quickly and easily evaluate your careers provision against the eight Gatsby Benchmarks.
Compass is available to secondary schools, special schools, sixth forms, colleges, PRU’s and ITPs in England.