Gatsby Benchmark Eight

Personal guidance

A career is a vital thread running through a person’s life. It is formed by the ongoing complex and shifting choices an individual makes, based on their understanding of themselves and the world around them. Compulsory education has a huge influence on these decisions. Therefore, it is critical to ensure that all young people develop their knowledge and skills, that they are equipped with decision-making tools and have the opportunities to make well-informed and confident choices about their next steps.

See the Gatsby Foundation’s 2024 report on Careers Guidance: Good career guidance, the next 10 years 

Statutory guidance in England mandates that secondary schools, colleges, and independent training providers adhere to Gatsby Benchmark 8, which requires every student to receive at least one personal guidance meeting with a trained careers adviser by age 16 and another by age 18, with information on accessing these meetings communicated to parents and carers.

CEC have a suite of activities for engaging parents and carers in careers education.

Schools must embed these guidance meetings into their careers programme to meet individual pupil needs and work with careers advisers, SEND coordinators, and other key staff to ensure effective personal guidance is provided.