The Government’s statutory guidance to schools (from January 2018) is that these principles should be adhered to in the delivery of careers guidance going forwards.
The 8 Gatsby Benchmarks:
- A Stable Careers Programme
- Learning from Career & Labour Market Information
- Addressing the needs of each pupil
- Linking Curriculum Learning to Careers
- Encounters with Employers and Employees
- Experience of Workplaces
- Encounters with Further and Higher Education
- Personal Guidance
Linking curriculum to careers is a current area of concern for schools, particularly at KS3 level. Encouraging students to start thinking about the world of work at this age, just before they start working towards their GCSEs, helps them to identify links between what they are learning at school and how the skills they are developing will benefit them in the world of work.
What is the Inspire Programme?
Communities 1st gained the support of local businesses to compile an online resource of careers talks, delivered by local professionals for the benefit of local school pupils. We asked 11 set questions to each of the professionals about their own careers, the industries they work in, and how the qualifications they gained at school link to their careers today. Professionals from a broad base of industries and sectors took part, including Media, Finance, Television, Sport, Performing Arts, Local Government, Travel and Tourism and Digital Marketing.
The questions we asked:
- Which A levels did you take to start your career?
- Did you go to University and if so, what did you study?
- What do you enjoy most about your job?
- What skills (outside of those learnt in school) would help a student hoping to get into this line of work?
- How can students start helping themselves become suitable candidates for this role?
- What path did you follow after A levels to reach your current position?
- What are the two most important traits someone needs to succeed in your field?
- What would you say to someone who wants to pursue this career but is worried about their grades?
- Are there any programmes/services available to students wanting to explore this career?
- What kind of challenges should you expect from this career?
- What trajectory can you expect to follow to move up in this sector?
Although the careers talks are particularly beneficial for Key Stage 3, they are also highly relevant to those in Years 11 and 13 who are preparing to leave full time education and enter the job market.
Click here for the Inspire career video page
To access the careers talks, please email us: inspire@communities1st.org.uk