Benchmark 1

To achieve Gatsby Benchmark 1, every school and college should have an embedded and progressive programme of career education and guidance that is known and understood by pupils, parents, teachers and employers.

• Every school and college should have a stable structured careers programme that has the explicit backing of the senior management team and has an identified and appropriately trained person responsible for it.
• The careers programme should be published on the school’s or college’s website in a way that enables students, parents, school/college staff and employers to access and understand it.
• The programme should be regularly evaluated with feedback from students, parents, school/college staff and employers as part of the evaluation process. Schools must give providers of technical education and apprenticeships the opportunity to talk to all pupils.
• Providers of technical (including higher technical) education, vocational education and apprenticeships should be given the opportunity to engage with students and their parents so that all routes at 16 and 18 are fully understood and so that students can make informed decisions at key transition points

Why is Benchmark 1 important?

• Benchmark 1 provides the foundation for careers provision across your school, special school or college and supports you to link careers provision to your vision, priorities and to school or college improvement
• Developing a progressive careers programme shaped and driven by a strategic careers plan, enables your students to make well informed decisions about education, training, apprenticeship & employment opportunities and supports then to cope with challenging labour market conditions.