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Good careers guidance: monitoring toolkit

This toolkit provides a framework for governing boards to monitor the careers programme and ensure pupils are supported to make informed choices about their future.

Guidance
22/05/2025
Pupils-learning group of pupils in uniform

Good careers guidance helps to bridge the worlds of education and work. When young people make informed choices about their future study, training and work options, they are better able to maximise their talents and realise their ambitions.

This toolkit for governing boards in the secondary phase sets out statutory responsibilities and key features of a successful careers programme. Use this tooklit to support and challenge your school or trust to meet the Gatsby Benchmarks – the framework for high-quality careers guidance.

Download the toolkit to learn more about:

  • statutory careers guidance responsibilities
  • key roles required to deliver and oversee the careers programme
  • using the Gatsby Benchmarks to monitor the programme
  • questions to ask about careers programme delivery

The toolkit was developed with support from The Careers and Enterprise Company (CEC) and The Gatsby Foundation.

Careers monitoring toolkit

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Careers link role description

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About the Gatsby Benchmarks

The Gatsby Benchmarks define what world class careers provision in education looks like and provide a clear framework for organising careers provision at your school or trust.

The benchmarks have been updated following extensive research and stakeholder engagement. From September 2025, the DfE expects all secondary schools and academies to use the updated Gatsby Benchmarks.

Advice for primary school governing boards

Governing boards in the primary phase can also have a significant influence in equipping their pupils for the world of work. If you govern in the primary phase, then you are in a position to support and challenge your school leaders to inspire pupils and challenge preconceptions about certain careers or pathways. Ask your headteacher or CEO:

  • How do pupils at our school(s) learn about the world of work?
  • Do we invite volunteers into school to talk to pupils about different careers?
  • Do we talk to our pupils about their perception of certain careers or pathways such as women in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) or men in teaching or caring professions?

The CEC provide a quick self-assessment quiz to help start these conversations.

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