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.
Careers Impact internal leadership review
The Careers Impact internal leadership review supports a quality assured, sustainable and strategic approach to careers leadership.
The review forms part of the Careers Impact System, which is a process that drives continuous improvement in careers education. It sets clearly defined standards as to what good looks like in careers leadership and is directly linked to wider school and college improvement.
Spotlight
Careers Leader Induction: Free Online Learning
Careers Leader Induction: Free Online Learning
Guided Learning Hours: 2-4 hours
Careers Leader training
Transform your careers programme and develop your skills as a Careers Leader to strategically embed careers in the curriculum.
Benchmark 1: Suggested universal career-related learning outcomes
This resource suggests a set of learning outcomes that could underpin your universal careers provision.
Understanding how to create a strategic careers plan
This resource helps Careers Leaders create a strategic careers plan that ensures the careers provision:
- Has explicit backing of governors, the headteacher and the senior management teams
- Is linked to the whole school, special school or college development plan
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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.
Compass Evaluation
The Compass evaluation has been updated in response to the updated Gatsby Benchmarks and statutory guidance.
FES Connect Activity
‘FES Connect’ is a national community for Post 16 careers leaders and practitioners, supporting development and sharing of best practice to ensure every learner is supported to find their next best step.
An opportunity to share examples of what's working well across the country in careers education via online seminars, newsletters showcasing best practice and an FES Connect chat board.
Click here to register.
The National Apprenticeship & Education Events
The National Apprenticeship & Education Events are designed to inspire school & college leavers, and other young adults, to discover more about career and further education opportunities.
Book your Free Student Places!
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.
OnTrack+ Practice Guide
OnTrack+ provides early insight within Compass+ to help schools and specialist settings recognise learners who may benefit from additional support.
This guidance outlines how to embed an evidence‑informed process for early identification and intervention, ensuring learners receive the right support at the right time while maintaining robust, responsible data practice.
Keyword(s): all
Recording parental engagement on Compass + video
Keep a track of all your parental engagement activity by recording it on Compass+. Find out how with this video guide.
Reflections Career Coaching: Discover Creative Careers
Discover exciting careers in creative and entertainment industries: access resources, advice, guidance, and the skills and qualities needed to work in each role.
Reimagining - Experiences of the Workplace
Developed by Shoreham Academy.
A set of resources designed to support both educators and employers to reimagine students’ experiences of the workplace. Containing practical guides and templates which can provide inspiration for a range of meaningful project-based activities.
You can also find a link below to our ‘Future Workplace’ webinar which highlighted these resources as part of a wider session looking at the implications (for educators and employers) of the post pandemic workplace.
Removing Barriers to Inclusion - An Employer Toolkit for Disability Confidence
Empower your business to embrace inclusivity with this comprehensive toolkit. Packed with actionable strategies, inspiring success stories and practical resources, it guides employers in creating disability confidence, improving accessibility and unlocking the potential of a more diverse workforce. Start building an inclusive, thriving workspace today.
Research your future Activity SEND
This resource has been developed by the team at Inspiring Worcestershire and contains an activity for SEND students around researching their future.
Research-based curricula
Access and assign these short tutorial courses to promote intellectual curiosity through exposure to academic research – and start building the skills needed for university.
Resource 1: The Careers Landscape
This is the first resource in our Supporting Employers: Working with Young People with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) collection.
It will take you through what the SEND education and Careers Landscape look like and give you an understanding around the world of SEND.
Resource 2: The benefits and challenges
This is the second resource in our Supporting Employers: Working with Young People with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) collection.
This resource talks about the business benefits of working with young people with SEND and looks at the barriers and misconceptions that can be in place and how these can be overcome.
Resource 3: Engaging with a School, Special School or College
This is the third resource in our Supporting Employers: Working with Young People with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) collection.
This resource looks at how to engage with a School, Special School or College and the steps you might take. It includes some tips to ensure the engagement is effective.
Resource 4: Tips for effective communication
This is the fourth resource in our Supporting Employers: Working with Young People with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) collection.
This resource contains tips on how to ensure effective communication when working with Schools, Special Schools and Colleges. It also looks at some questions you might want to ask to enable you to build an effective relationship.
Resource 5: Gaining Support from different stakeholders
This is the fifth resource in our Supporting Employers: Working with Young People with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) collection.
In this resource you can gain some understanding about how to gain support from stakeholders including colleagues and Senior Leaders in schools.
Resource 6: Guidance on choosing and planning an activity
This is the sixth resource in our Supporting Employers: Working with Young People with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) collection.
This resource takes you through some tips on choosing and planning activity when working with young people with SEND. It also contains useful checklists for when you choose your activity to support its implementation.