Staff/Teachers Careers Hub

Why Integrate Careers into Your Lessons?

As educators, you play a vital role in shaping the future aspirations of your students. By incorporating careers education into your lessons, you're not only preparing them academically but also equipping them with the knowledge and skills they need to make informed decisions about their future paths.

The Power of the Gatsby Benchmarks

The Gatsby Benchmarks provide a framework for delivering world-class careers guidance. By aligning your teaching practices with these benchmarks, you can ensure that your students:

  • Develop a strong understanding of the world of work
  • Gain practical skills for the future
  • Have opportunities to explore different career paths
  • Receive personalized guidance to support their aspirations

What are the 8 Gatsby Benchmarks?

A stable careers programme: Every school and college should have an embedded stable careers programme of career education and guidance that is known and understood by pupils, parents, teachers and employers.  

Learning from career and labour market information: Pupils should have opportunities to learn about different careers, labour market information and different pathways into work.  

Addressing the needs of each pupil: Careers guidance should address the needs of each pupil, individually and collectively.

Linking curriculum learning to careers: The curriculum should be taught in a way that inspires pupils and helps them to make links to the world of work.

Encounters with employers and employees: Pupils should have opportunities to learn from employers about different careers and the skills and qualifications employers need.

Experiences of workplaces: Pupils should have opportunities to experience workplaces first-hand.

Encounters with further and higher education: Pupils should have opportunities to learn about different options for further and higher education.

Personal guidance: Pupils should have access to personal guidance to help them make decisions about their future.

How to Integrate Careers into Your Lessons

Here are some practical tips to embed careers education into your subject:

  • Real-world connections: Relate curriculum content to real-world careers. For example, discuss how mathematical equations are used in engineering or how historical events have shaped modern industries.
  • Create a careers corner in your classroom
  • include pathways student could take at age 16 and age 18
  • highlight essential skills that link to activities
  • could you frame your lesson with a job role or job sector?
  • display websites and events
  • be personal and share your own story
  • engage with parents, businesses and organisations
  • invite alumni – the cherry on the cake!
  • Guest speaker sessions: Invite professionals from various industries to share their experiences and insights with your students.
  • Workplace visits: Organize field trips to local businesses to give students a firsthand look at different work environments.
  • Career-focused projects: Assign projects that require students to research specific careers, analyze job market trends, or develop business plans.
  • Use of online resources: Encourage students to explore online platforms like National Careers Service, Prospects, UCAS, and the following additional resources:
    • ICould: https://icould.com/ - A platform that helps young people explore career options and build employability skills.
    • The Careers & Enterprise Company: https://www.careersandenterprise.co.uk/ - A national charity that supports schools and colleges to deliver high-quality careers education.
    • The Skills Toolkit: A free online learning platform that offers a range of courses to help people develop essential skills for work.

By incorporating careers education into your lessons, you're not only fulfilling your role as an educator but also empowering your students to reach their full potential.

Why Does Careers Education Matter?

A robust careers programme can significantly enhance student outcomes. Here's why:

  • Improved Academic Performance: Studies have shown that students who engage in career-related activities often exhibit increased motivation and focus in their academic studies.
  • Enhanced Employability Skills: Careers education equips students with essential soft skills like communication, problem-solving, and teamwork, which are highly valued by employers.
  • Increased Confidence and Self-Esteem: By exploring different career paths and gaining exposure to the world of work, students can develop a stronger sense of self-belief and purpose.
  • Reduced NEET Rates: Effective careers guidance can help young people make informed decisions about their future, reducing the number of NEETs (Not in Education, Employment, or Training).

Key Statistics:

  • The Gatsby Benchmark Impact: Schools that fully implement the Gatsby Benchmarks have seen a 20% reduction in NEET rates among disadvantaged young people.
  • Economic Benefits: For every £1 invested in high-quality careers guidance, there is a potential return of £3.50 in reduced welfare costs and increased tax revenue.
  • Student Engagement: Career-related activities can boost student engagement in the classroom, leading to improved attendance and punctuality.
KS3 Careers Provision KS4 Careers Provision KS5 Careers Provision Careers Magazine Apprenticeships

Useful websites:
Unifrog: https://www.unifrog.org/
The world’s biggest database of post-16 and post-18 opportunities, as well as a one-stop-shop where students can easily explore their interests, then find and successfully apply for their chosen pathway after school.

Careermap: https://careermap.co.uk/careermag/
Careermap offers a complete guide to apprenticeships, courses and university opportunities along with useful articles offering education and career advice. It has separate magazines for students and parents.

The Buzz Quiz: https://icould.com/buzz-quiz/
This quick quiz helps students work out which careers might suit them in the future.

London Labour Market Information: https://london-lmi.startprofile.com/page/home-page
This website shows you where future jobs and career pathways are being created across London, as well as how to qualify and apply for these.

UCAS: https://www.ucas.com
Use this site to explore all university courses available and find out what their entry requirements are, and how to apply.

Find an apprenticeship: https://www.findapprenticeship.service.gov.uk/apprenticeshipsearch
This is the government database for all current apprenticeship vacancies.

School Leaver Programmes: https://www.allaboutschoolleavers.co.uk/jobs/school-leaver-programmes
Use this site to see which companies are offering higher and degree level apprenticeships. 

Hillingdon Post-16 Prospectus 2022-23: https://indd.adobe.com/embed/431c8ff6-7239-478d-95d7-90cd0619373b?startpage=1&allowFullscreen=true
This online prospectus contains details of the post-16 providers in Hillingdon.

National Careers Service: https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/
This service provides careers information, advice and guidance and can help you to make decisions on learning, training and work at all stages in your career.