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Careers Leader

Careers Leaders are responsible and accountable for the planning, delivery and impact measurement of their school, special school or college’s strategic careers plan and progressive careers programme.

It’s a key role that involves aligning careers provision to the strategic priorities of the school, special school or college and overseeing work towards meeting the Gatsby Benchmarks in a meaningful way for young people.

The Careers Leader needs to be someone who can:

  • Take responsibility for continuous improvement of the strategic careers plan and the progressive careers programme, which should be planned and implemented to ensure positive outcomes for young people.
  • Coordinate and manage the various elements of the careers programme informed by a strategic careers plan aligned to school, special school or college priorities.
  • Liaise with external partners, such as employers, learning providers and career guidance services.
  • Pay careful attention to feedback from all stakeholders and to the destinations of pupils.

Developed with you in mind, we’ve made it easy to quickly find the trusted, high quality resources you need to make a difference. We’ve identified, and regularly update, key resources that can directly support you as you plan, implement and measure the impact of your strategic careers plan and progressive careers programme and as you work towards achieving the Gatsby Benchmarks.

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426
Gatsby BM1, 3, 4
SEND
Key stages
Campaigns

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.

Powerpoint
Gatsby BM1, 3, 8
SEND
Key stages

Careers Education Information Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) and Transitions in Focus: A guide to support vision impaired children and young people

Thomas Pocklington Trust (TPT) has a range of useful resources for careers leaders and practitioners working with blind and partially sighted students in mainstream secondary schools and colleges.

Gatsby BM2, 4
SEND
Key stages

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.

Gatsby BM7
Key stages

Understanding how to embed progressive encounters with further and higher education

This resource supports Careers Leaders to embed encounters with providers of all routes available to students at key transitions within a progressive and impactful careers programme. The guidance will support meaningful achievement of relevant Gatsby Benchmarks and of Provider Access Legislation. To support a meaningful approach to Benchmark 7 and to Provider Access Legislation (PAL), this resource is underpinned by the following guiding principles: 

  • Start early to develop a progressive approach that allows for multiple experiences across all key stages
  • Be intent and outcome lead
  • Be responsive to learner need, evaluation data and regional/labour market context
  • Commit to true advocacy and ensure equity of access to information and understanding
  • Challenge misconceptions, stereotypes and assumptions head on 
PDF
Gatsby BM5, 6
Key stages

Understanding how to embed progressive employer encounters and work experiences

These resources help Careers Leaders to plan, implement and impact evaluate a progressive and embedded approach to Benchmarks 5 and 6. The resource supports a meaningful approach and is underpinned by the following core guiding principles:  

  • Start early to develop a progressive approach that allows for multiple encounters and experiences across all key stages 
  • Be intent and outcome led
  • Be responsive to learner need, evaluation data and regional/labour market context  
PDF
Gatsby BM1, 3
Key stages

Understanding how to effectively evaluate your careers provision

This resource helps Careers Leaders effectively evaluate their careers provision using feedback from learners, parents and carers, subject staff and other staff who support learners (including Careers Advisers) to increase its impact. This resource also supports Careers Leaders to:  

  • Collect, maintain and use accurate data for each learner on their aspiration, intended and immediate education, and training or employment destinations to inform personalised support (Benchmark 3) 
  • Use longer-term data (including destinations data) as part of their evaluation process (Benchmark 3)  

 

PDF
Gatsby BM1
Key stages

Understanding how to develop progressive and responsive careers provision (Careers Learning Journeys) 

This guidance provides Careers Leaders with steps to map and enhance their current careers provision that is underpinned by learning outcomes to support learners to make aspirational and informed decisions, make effective and sustained transitions and to develop career readiness skills.

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

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.

PDF

Keyword(s): all

Gatsby BM1, 3, 7
Key stages

Amazing Apprenticeships Resources

Amazing Apprenticeships is a leading organisation in the education sector, working with schools, colleges and employers, tackling misconceptions and promoting the benefits of apprenticeships and technical education.

They work closely with the Department for Education and a wide range of other partners and stakeholder organisations in England and internationally, to ensure that more individuals and businesses can access the benefits of apprenticeships.

Animated film explaining what apprenticeships are and their benefits, watch here! 

PDF
ZIP