Benchmark 8

Every pupil should have opportunities for guidance meetings with a careers adviser, who could be internal (a member of school staff) or external, provided they are trained to an appropriate level. These meetings should be available for all pupils whenever significant study or career choices are being made. They should be expected for all pupils but should be scheduled to meet their individual needs. The careers leader should work closely with the careers adviser, SEND coordinator (SENDCO) and other key staff to ensure personal guidance is effective and embedded in the careers programme.

• Every pupil should have at least one personal guidance meeting with a careers adviser by the age of 16, and a further meeting by the age of 18. Meetings should be scheduled in the careers programme to meet the needs of pupils.
• Information about personal guidance support and how to access it should be communicated to pupils and parents and carers, including through the school or college website.

* The benchmark sets a high standard and states that staff giving one-to-one guidance to students should be qualified to an appropriate level. The CDI also specifies that to be on their register, advisers must be Level 6 or above. The government recommends that schools source their providers of personal guidance from this. of career paths.

Why is Benchmark 8 important?

• Providing structured personal guidance time within the school enables students to focus on their future dreams and to set goals to achieve them.
• Research shows that students benefit from conversations with familiar and trusted adults who can challenge and support them.
• Access to independent and impartial professional careers guidance is strongly valued by students and parents and is a recurring feature of good provision.
• Personal guidance helps students to consolidate and reflect upon their vocational identity, career decision making and self-efficacy. It is a focal point for making sense of the vital ingredients in the careers programme including encounters with employers and higher education, experiences of workplaces and career learning in subjects.