The Gatsby Benchmarks

The eight Gatsby Benchmarks are the foundation of the Careers Strategy, a statutory requirement for maintained schools, academies, further education colleges and sixth form colleges.

Providing high-quality career guidance in schools and colleges is vital to young people so they can make well-informed decisions on their future. The best career provision is essential to the reforms of technical education and social equality.

What are the 8 Gatsby Benchmarks

1. A stable careers programme
2. Learning from career and labour market information
3. Addressing the needs of each pupil
4. Linking curriculum learning to careers
5. Encounters with employers and employees
6. Experiences of workplaces
7. Encounters with further and higher education
8. Personal guidance

The Gatsby Benchmarks Careermap can support

• Gatsby Benchmark 2: Learning from career and labour market information
• Gatsby Benchmark 4: Linking curriculum learning to careers
• Gatsby Benchmarks 5: Encounters with employers and employees
• Gatsby Benchmark 7: Encounters with further and higher education

Gatsby Benchmark 2: Learning from career and labour market information

Careermap publishes Careermag and Careermag for Parents, which is a wealth of quality information about careers and qualifications, and includes a host of articles enriched with Labour Market Information (LMI) that help young people and their parents/guardians understand the choices available – now and in the future. Our Careermags are a helpful resource for teachers and career advisers when working with young people to help them understand what the job market looks like in the sectors they are interested in.

The careers landscape is constantly changing and it can be difficult to keep up to date on the wide array of opportunities accessible. It’s not surprising that ‘half of British parents worry their knowledge of today’s job market could impede their child’s future’.

Gatsby Benchmark 4: Linking curriculum learning to careers

All of our Careermag publications are useful when linking careers to the curriculum, whatever the subject! The magazines are produced as free downloadable PDFs packed with in depth, colourful features on a wide range of jobs, sectors and industries. These can be pulled out and printed large to make great visual aids in the classroom.

Careermap has a range of resources to help you, your schools, teachers or Careers Leaders meet some of these requirements in a fun and informative way. Our Gatsby Benchmark Posters are available to purchase here.

The Labour Market Information (LMI) included is well researched and up-to-date, often supported by the industry bodies and employers in the sector who provide first hand, reliable information. Whether it is a STEM subject, creative or landscaping, you can find a relevant topic to link to your subject, sometimes unsuspected or surprising.

Visit Careerometer to find out specific job information, including salaries and future prospects. You can search two at the same time to compare differences. Useful to demonstrate what additional qualifications and experience can do to expected salaries!

Flick over to CareermapTV and you will find plenty of videos covering a wide range of careers. These include case studies of young people working in various sectors and how they got there, including apprentices and street videos quizzing the general public on their career journey. Employers have posted what it is really like to work in their industry and what qualifications and skills they are looking for. A great asset to make for an interesting and engaging lesson!

Gatsby Benchmarks 5: Encounters with employers and employees

We understand it can be difficult, frustrating and time consuming to arrange for employers to come into schools. And not every employer will be interesting to every student. We can help!

Careermap can arrange for a live broadcast into your lesson linking you with a number of employers, either in your region or across the country. Invite the employer in via live broadcast that gives the ability to ask questions during the event or even after. Get in touch to find out more.

Gatsby Benchmark 7: Encounters with further and higher education

Careers are no longer a linear pathway and neither are qualifications. We at Careermap believe that no route is better than another. All content found on our blogs and in our publications offer an independent view on all pathways, including vocational and academic. Subscribe to Careermag and you will receive a wealth of information to help you inform your students.

Careermap also hosts a wide range of live apprenticeships, FE courses and work experience. If you have a young person considering a different route to university, they can find out what the available options are to them right now.