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.
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Parental Engagement: Inspiration and upskilling - conversation starters
An informal activity to help parents and students discuss skills and careers options with support from school/college.
Parental Engagement: KS4-5 Students careers conversations activity
An activity to give students the confidence to initiate careers conversations at home.
Parental Engagement: Toolkit
Developed from the original Toolkit from the Gatsby Foundation, this toolkit is based on research exploring how institutions can best support parents to help young people make informed careers and education decisions. It includes colour coded identifiers to help you find the right support, wherever you are on your parental engagement journey.
Financial Literacy Curriculum from FT FLIC
The Financial Times charity, the Financial Literacy & Inclusion Campaign (FT FLIC), offers a free financial literacy curriculum for secondary schools, featuring six 50-minute lessons per year group. It supports students to make informed financial decisions, manage financial risks and prepare for the world of work.
Aquatic Science Careers: Lesson Activities & Videos
Using this resource, you can dive into the thrilling world of aquatic science! Discover what it's like to work in this dynamic field and hear inspiring career journeys from our passionate colleagues at Cefas.
Parental Engagement Checklist
Use our handy checklist as a guide to establish and maintain effective parental engagement in your setting.
If you use Compass+, read our Help Centre article to find out how to use the Activities section effectively to record parental engagement.
Looked After Children (Children in Care): Careers in Personal Education Plan
Personal Education Plan Careers Resources
Exploring Careers in Local Councils
Developed by WMJobs.co.uk, this flexible suite of resources connects young people to careers in local councils and is great for integrating into existing career programs. The resources are designed to support students from the beginning of their secondary education journey, with a particular emphasis on Key Stage 3 (ages 11–14).
National Careers Service
The National Careers Service provides high quality, free and impartial careers advice, information and guidance. The service is available all year round to anyone aged 13+ no matter what stage of the careers journey they are at.
This Is My Story Film
This 6-minute film (with British Sign Language interpretation) follows the inspirational stories of apprentices with learning differences, disabilities and health conditions.
Learn how these apprentices are progressing their careers through apprenticeships and the ways that their employers and training providers are supporting them.
Early Years Careers
Working with small children is a big deal.
Developed by the Department for Education as part of the ‘Do Something BIG, work with small children’ campaign, this resource includes information for young people on all areas of early years and childcare work, the different routes into the sector and real-life stories.
Linking Careers to the Curriculum
A guide to engaging students and supporting progress by embedding teaching in the context of the world of work.