Information for Teachers and Staff

Careers education is a now a statutory element of secondary and post-16 education. To embed careers successfully, it is now clear that a Golden Thread approach has a more positive impact on the outcomes of young people. In practice, this means careers should not be solely the responsibility of the Careers Lead.

Emerging evidence of the impact of careers education also indicates a positive impact on the following areas linked with careers events and encounters: attitudes to learning, attendance, revision time, motivation, and even improved GCSE grades. (Motivated to achieve: How encounters with the world of work can change attitudes and improve academic achievement – Education and Employers)

As a member of staff, you play an important role in helping to nurture a young person’s careers ambitions. If you are a form tutor, for example, it is likely that you will come into contact much more often than members of the careers team and also develop a stronger relationship with that individual. As a subject specialist, you can share your insights into the world of work linked to your subject.  This approach combined with access to impartial advice and guidance (which someone with a Level 6 Qualification in Careers can provide) for every young person will ensure a well-rounded careers education programme.,.

The Careers Leader within your organisation will be working to ensure that all the 8 Gatsby benchmarks (https://www.careersandenterprise.co.uk/careers-leaders/gatsby-benchmarks/ ) are embedded and achieved within your school or college. A particular Benchmark of importance for teachers is Benchmark 4 – Linking curriculum learning to careers. It would be useful to become familiar with this Benchmark, using the link above to find out more. Additionally, Cumbria Careers Hub have arranged a wealth or resources to help you embed careers and achieve Gatsby Benchmark 4. https://www.careershubcumbria.co.uk/schools-colleges/benchmarks/benchmark-4/

So how can you support?

Below, are some top tips which might help you embed careers into your subject area:

• Ensure you have read your organisation’s careers programme. This will help you to familiarise yourself with upcoming careers events – you can then see if you can link your subject to that event or get some reflections from the year group who attended.

• Identify the process of how to book a 1-1 careers appointment. Or, if you would like to bring in an outside speaker, talk with your Careers lead who will probably have some contact.

• Ensure that ‘soft’ employability skills are identified and included within your schemes of work. In lessons, this could include opportunities for young people to develop their communication, team work or public speaking skills.

• Create a careers notice board in your subject area – show progression opportunities and job linked to your subject, or show destinations data from students who studied your subject.

• Utilise previous students – invite back previous students who went on to study or work in an area linked to your subject area.

• Keep up to date with progression opportunities for young people in your area. Such as, T-levels at a local College, or changes in university finance. A useful website which goes through different types apprenticeships, T-levels and university in more detail is: https://careerpilot.org.uk/  .

• Include ‘day in the life’ style videos into your lessons, showcasing a job linked to your subject. These can be found on YouTube and could be a useful plenary.

• Use the ‘Start with your subject’ section on Careers Pilot – you can then explore different jobs linked to your subject. https://careerpilot.org.uk/job-sectors/subjects