Benchmark 7

All students should understand the full range of learning opportunities that are available to them. This includes both technical and academic routes and learning in schools, colleges, universities and in the workplace. 

• By the age of 16, every student should have had a meaningful encounter* with providers of the full range of educational opportunities, including sixth forms, colleges, universities and apprenticeship providers. This should include the opportunity to meet both staff and students. 
• By the age of 18, all students who are considering applying for university should have had at least two visits to universities to meet staff and students. 
• By the age of 18, or before the end of their programme of study, every student should have had a meaningful encounter with a range of providers of learning and training that may form the next stage of their career. This should include, as appropriate, further education colleges, higher education and apprenticeship and training providers. This should include the opportunity to meet both staff and students. 

*A ‘meaningful encounter’ is one in which the student has an opportunity to explore what it is like to learn in that environment. This includes academic and vocational routes and learning in schools, colleges, universities and the workplace.

Why is Benchmark 7 important?

• Exposure to higher and further education and to apprenticeships, helps raise aspiration and allows young people to make the right choices for them. At the moment many more young people have encounters with higher than further education. 
• The UK’s future depends on all of our young people finding the right path for them and fulfilling their potential. 
• One in four pupils from poor families make it to university. Nearly double the amount of other children make it. If bright children from poor families had the same support to achieve as others four in ten would go to a top university – today only one in ten make it. 
• FSM students make up only 16.7% of students in KS5 (16-18 years) academic pathways in comparison to 28% on vocational pathways (Bit report). 
• 1,400 more students were in sustained EET during 2018/19 connected to the level of guidance provision that schools in the sample reported, compared to a scenario in which all schools had reported zero benchmark provision.

Provider Access Legislation

The provider access legislation is new guidance that comes into force from January 2023, which builds on Benchmark 7 and adds new specific requirements for schools. 

It specifies schools must provide at least six provider encounters for all their students, for the purpose of informing them about approved technical education qualifications or apprenticeships. Schools are required to publish a Provider Access Policy on their websites setting out when and how providers can access students through the year. It is important that all students, whatever their ability, understand the full range of options available to them so they can make an informed choice when making decisions at 16 and 18. This includes the full range of learning locations and qualifications on offer. Careers Leaders may need to help teaching staff and others across the school understand all the options available to students.

You can find out more about the guidance and support with promoting all pathways here.