Overview

The Department for Education (DfE) requires all secondary schools and colleges in England to deliver a structured careers programme. This is guided by statutory legislation and the Gatsby Benchmarks, which define high-quality careers education.

Key Responsibilities for Schools

• Applies to Years 7–13 in all state-funded secondary schools and colleges.
• Schools must provide six provider encounters (Years 8–13) under the Baker Clause (Provider Access Legislation).
• A Careers Leader must be appointed to oversee delivery.
• Schools must publish their careers programme and provider access policy online.

The Gatsby Benchmarks
 

The CDI Framework and the Gatsby Benchmarks

We use the CDI Framework learning areas and outcomes. As well as mapping easily to the PSHRE core themes, the framework works in conjunction with the 8 Gatsby Benchmarks.

The difference between the CDI framework and the Gatsby Benchmarks: The Gatsby Benchmarks provide guidance on how to organise the delivery of careers education, while the CDI framework defines the expected learning outcomes.

The CDI’s Career Development Framework describes the six career development skills that people need to have positive careers and, within them, we can set learning outcomes or map careers learning in the curriculum, trips and the PSHRE outcomes. The six learning areas are:

  Grow throughout life 
Grow throughout life by learning and reflecting on yourself, your background, and your strengths.

Explore possibilities 
Explore the full range of possibilities open to you and learn about recruitment processes and the culture of different workplaces.

  Manage career  
Manage your career actively, making the most of opportunities and learning from setbacks.

  Create opportunities  
Create opportunities by being proactive and building positive relationships with others.

  Balance life and work  
Balance your life as a worker and/or entrepreneur with your wellbeing, other interests and your involvement with your family and the community.

  See the big picture  
See the big picture by paying attention to how the economy, politics and society connect with your own life and career. 

Your Role as a Teacher at Crookhorn College

Teachers have an essential part to play in preparing students for their future careers. Whether it is integrating real-world applications of subject content, discussing career opportunities related to your subject, or supporting students with career-related events, your involvement helps students make informed choices about their futures.

Here’s how teachers can contribute to the school’s careers education programme:

1. Linking Curriculum to Careers

• Career-Relevant Lessons: Embedding careers learning into subject teaching. Linking careers to the curriculum can be achieved in several ways, be it through tailored lesson plans, careers activities, classroom conversations linking the subject to careers and highlighting the employability skills developed through the subject.
• Make every trip a careers trip: Link trips and experiences to the world or work to give context to classroom learning e.g. on a trip an employee talks about their job and  shares the skills needed etc. and students ask questions (GB 2,4,5), this can be enhanced to include GB 6 if  an employer sets students a task and gives feedback
• Real-World Examples: Use real-world examples from your subject to highlight potential career paths and industries that rely on skills learned in your classroom. Inviting guest speakers and Alumni is a useful way to share real-world examples with students.
• Careers Displays: Consider creating subject-specific career displays in classrooms to visually highlight the connection between academic learning and career options.
• Embed the 4Cs into careers education within the subject:
  Critical Thinking e.g. Encourage students to explore career pathways related to your subject.
  Collaboration e.g. Students to work together on research about careers linked to your subject.
  Communication e.g. Students practice communication styles (emails, reports, presentations).
  Creativity e.g. Highlighting creative tasks to emerging careers (e.g., digital design, AI, sustainability).

2. Supporting the Careers Curriculum

• Collaborate with the Careers Leader to integrate careers-related learning into lessons, especially in PSHRE or when delivering careers-specific workshops.
• Help students develop employability skills such as problem-solving, teamwork, communication, and resilience, which are important in any career.

3. Careers Events and Opportunities

• Careers Fairs and Employer Engagement: Encourage students to participate in career fairs, employer talks, and networking events. Teachers can support students in preparing questions and making the most of these opportunities.
• Work Experience: Support students in Year 10 as they prepare for work experience, helping them reflect on their goals and what they hope to gain from the experience.

4. Identifying and Referring Students for Careers Support

• Career Aspirations: Talk to your students about their career interests and aspirations. If a student is unsure about their next steps or needs more guidance, refer them to the Careers Leader/Adviser for individual support.
• Targeted Support: Be proactive in identifying students who may need additional support with careers guidance, especially those who are at risk of becoming NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training).

5. Supporting Post-16 Pathways

• Teachers of students in Years 11 are encouraged to help students explore post-16 options, including A-levels, T Levels, apprenticeships, and university choices.
• Provide advice and guidance related to subject-specific pathways in higher education, technical education, or direct employment. 

Unifrog

Unifrog is an online platform designed to help students explore career options, record experiences, and prepare for future pathways.

Teachers can use Unifrog to:

• Monitor students’ engagement with careers activities and track progress.
• Teachers and advisers can use Unifrog to record every career guidance interaction – including trips and visits from education and training providers.
• Integrate Unifrog resources into lessons (e.g., the Subject and Know-How Library).
• Use the LMI tool e.g. encourage students to explore the “Careers Library” and “Skills” sections to see how their interests align with current job trends.
• Have access to up-to-date information about future pathways, study options, and labour market opportunities.

Support & Tools

• Careers & Enterprise Company (CEC) – Understanding how to embed careers in the curriculum v5_0.pdf.
• The My Learning, My Future resources aim to increase learner engagement by showing how 27 subjects connect to careers and the world of work. 
• National Careers Service (NCS) – Impartial advice and guidance.