Gatsby Benchmark Six

Experiences of the workplace

The Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland Careers Hub want to work with you to set your strategic plan for work experience moving forward.

Every learner should have first-hand experiences of workplaces to help their exploration of career opportunities and expand their networks.

For schools:

• By the age of 16, every pupil should have had meaningful experiences of workplaces.
• By the age of 18, every pupil should have had at least one further meaningful experience.

For colleges and ITPs:

• By the end of their programme of study, every learner should have had at least one meaningful experience of a workplace, in addition to any part-time jobs they may have.

From September 2025, all institutions should adopt the strengthened benchmark. Schools should ensure that every pupil has multiple first-hand experiences of workplaces by the age of 16 and at least one further such experience by age 18. Colleges and ITPs should ensure that every learner has had at least one experience of a workplace during their programme of study. High quality and meaningful experiences of workplaces are a key component of 16 to 19 study programmes.

The benchmark places a much stronger emphasis on ensuring that all learners have multiple, meaningful and varied workplace experiences. The increased flexibility in this model is also intended to reduce barriers for both young people and employers. The approach will support schools with strategic planning working towards the government’s guarantee of work experience.

CEC have published a list of frequently asked questions to support with understanding the requirements of Benchmark 6. They have also published a detailed, comprehensive guide for how to meet Gatsby Benchmark 6 more meaningfully and deliver positive student outcomes.

Making it meaningful

A meaningful experience of the workplace gives the young person the opportunity to explore what it is like to work in that environment, what skills are valued in the workplace, their recruitment processes and what it takes to be successful. This could be achieved through visits to workplaces, work shadowing or work experience. These experiences could be in person or a combination of in person and virtual, where appropriate.

Both the young person and employers should be supported to prepare for the experience. Additional or different support may be needed for vulnerable and disadvantaged young people and for young people with SEND.

A meaningful experience will:

• Have a clear purpose, which is shared with the employer and the young person.
• Be underpinned by learning outcomes that are appropriate to the needs of the young person.
• Involve extensive two-way interactions between the young person and employees.
• Include opportunities for young people to meet a range of different people from the workplace.
• Include opportunities for young people to perform a task set by the employer or to produce a piece of work relevant to that workplace.
• Include the employer providing feedback to the young person about their work.
• Be followed by opportunities for the young person to reflect on the insights, knowledge or skills gained through their experience.

Schools, colleges and ITPs can take into account any part-time work a young person may have, if it genuinely offers them a meaningful experience. Part-time work can contribute to Benchmark 6 but should not replace the need for other meaningful experiences of workplaces.

DBS’s and Health & Safety in the workplace

Schools and Colleges must decide whether adults working with pre-16 work experience learners need to obtain a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) certificate by consulting the regulated activity section in part three of the statutory guidance, Keeping children safe in education. The statutory guidance points to the Keeping Children Safe in Education and to Health and Safety Executive Guidance

Resources

The Careers Hub have designed a planning document for mainstream 11-18 provision and colleges, SEND, and AP provisions to help map out how your institution can deliver modern work experience.