Gatsby Benchmarks
Gatsby Benchmarks
| Benchmark | Summary | |
| 1. A stable careers programme | Every school and college should have an embedded programme of career education and guidance that is known and understood by students, parents, teachers and employers. | Fairfield has a stable and structured careers programme that has the support of the Senior Leadership Team and Directors.
Careers Policy is shared with Directors, SLT and Staff. Careers Programme is published on the website. Assemblies held for Students. |
| 2. Learning from career and labour market information | Every student, and their parents, should have access to good quality information about future study options and labour market opportunities. They will need the support of an informed adviser to make best use of available information. | Fairfield ensures that all students have access and have used information about different careers paths and the labour market by the age of 14. This is important to inform the students’ decisions and study options.
Options evening Careers Evening LMI posters |
| 3. Addressing the needs of each student | Students have different career guidance needs at different stages. Opportunities for advice and support need to be tailored to the needs of each student. A school’s careers programme should embed equality and diversity considerations throughout. | Fairfield aims to challenge stereotypical thinking on job and career roles and raise the aspirations of all students in school.
Careers and Enterprise curriculum and specialist days. Student Voice and evaluations. Careers mentoring through referral process for individual students. |
| 4. Linking curriculum learning to careers | All teachers should link curriculum learning with careers. For example, STEM subject teachers should highlight the relevance of STEM subjects for a wide range of future career paths. | Careers is part of the PSHE curriculum and links made across all subject areas. |
| 5. Encounters with employers and employees | Every student should have multiple opportunities to learn from employers about work, employment and the skills that are valued in the workplace. This can be through a range of enrichment activities including visiting speakers, mentoring and enterprise schemes. | Students already take part in events such as Career Networking, Careers’ Evening and Enterprise Day.
Fairfield is further developing the programme to ensure that all students from the age of 11 have been able to participate in at least one meaningful encounter with an employer. Business Enterprise Day. Career Detective event. CV/Mock Interviews. Careers Fair. Assemblies. Extra-Curricular Clubs (Mock Trial, DofE). |
| 6. Experiences of workplaces | Every student should have first-hand experiences of the workplace through work visits, work shadowing and/or work experience to help their exploration of career opportunities, and expand their networks. | Through the development of the programme, students should have opportunities that allow them to experience the workplace environment by the age of 16. |
| 7. Encounters with further and higher education | All students should understand the full range of learning opportunities that are available to them. This includes both academic and vocational routes and learning in schools, colleges, universities and in the workplace. | By the age of 16 every student should have a meaningful encounter* with a range of local colleges, training providers, apprenticeships and other learning opportunities. Fairfield has strong links with many local providers and KS4 students visit the main colleges’ campuses, alongside visits to school from post 16 colleges and trainers.
FE/HE visits. Careers Fairs. HE Assemblies. Apprenticeship provider assemblies. |
| 8. Personal guidance | Every student should have opportunities for guidance interviews with a careers adviser, who could be internal (a member of school staff) or external, provided they are trained to an appropriate level. These should be available whenever significant study or career choices are being made. They should be expected for all students but should be timed to meet their individual needs. | Every student has at least one interview with the independent Careers Advisor before they leave Fairfield. The Careers Advisor is in school once a week to support all students and the careers programme.
1:1 career guidance. Post 16 transition support. |