Careers Policy Statement
Last reviewed: December 2025
Rationale
Our careers education programme provides our learners with the opportunity to plan and manage their careers effectively, ensuring progression which is ambitious and aspirational. It promotes equality of opportunity, celebrates diversity and challenges stereotypes. It is designed to meet the Gatsby benchmarks and conforms to statutory requirements.
We are committed to providing all learners in Years 7 and 8 with a careers programme which is embedded into the curriculum and includes a variety of enrichment activities. The programme has been developed in line with the eight Gatsby benchmarks for ensuring best practice and to meet the requirements of the Department for Education’s statutory guidance last updated January 2025 and in line with the updated Gatsby Benchmarks.
We are committed to providing all learners in Years 7 and 8 with a careers programme which is embedded into the curriculum and includes a variety of enrichment activities. The programme has been developed in line with the eight Gatsby benchmarks for ensuring best practice and to meet the requirements of the Department for Education’s statutory guidance last updated January 2025 and in line with the updated Gatsby Benchmarks.
The Gatsby Benchmarks
1. A stable careers programme
2. Learning from career and labour market information
3. Addressing the needs of each young person
4. Linking curriculum learning to careers
5. Encounters with employers and employees
6. Experience of work places
7. Encounters with further and higher education
8. Personal guidance
We aim to support learners to make realistic and informed decisions about their future, by raising aspirations and providing impartial and independent information and guidance. The school is fully aware of the responsibility to set pupils on the path that will secure them their best outcome, without showing bias towards any route, be that academic or technical.
2. Learning from career and labour market information
3. Addressing the needs of each young person
4. Linking curriculum learning to careers
5. Encounters with employers and employees
6. Experience of work places
7. Encounters with further and higher education
8. Personal guidance
We aim to support learners to make realistic and informed decisions about their future, by raising aspirations and providing impartial and independent information and guidance. The school is fully aware of the responsibility to set pupils on the path that will secure them their best outcome, without showing bias towards any route, be that academic or technical.
Objectives
To ensure that our learners:
- develop an awareness of the wide variety of education, training and careers opportunities both locally and nationally.
- use effectively the paper-based, virtual and staff resources available so they can make informed and appropriate choices throughout their school journey
- benefit from links fostered between the school, local businesses and further education establishments
- experience the world of work and develop transferable skills
- wherever possible continue their education at upper school and then leave to enter employment, further education or training to avoid the risk of them becoming NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training)
- experience a culture of high aspirations, equality of opportunity, in which diversity is celebrated and stereotypes are challenged
- receive extra assistance and guidance to reach their potential, where this is necessary
Careers provision is mapped against the Gatsby benchmarks. The current careers programme is delivered through a combination of methods, including explicit lessons provided via Jigsaw and The PHSE Association, as well through specific events and visits to workplaces.
Careers information is also available in the library.
Careers information is also available in the library.
Careers and SEND Provision
Every learner with SEND follows the same programme of careers as their peers, with adaption and support from the SEND team where appropriate
Careers Team
- Mr. J. Gully (Assistant Head Teacher & Careers Lead) jgully@gilbertinglefield.org
- Mr. M. Lemon (Link Governor)
- Mrs. M. Timberlake (Head of PHSE)
