Benchmark 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.
How do you get started?
- Linking careers to the curriculum supports the engagement of students and supports progress by highlighting the relevance of subjects and specific teaching points to careers and future opportunities
- Share your definition of careers with staff to help colleagues recognise the value in a whole school approach to Benchmark 4
What else can you do?
- Consider an audit and celebration of what staff are already doing
- Share the ‘My Learning, My Future resources with staff to support them in highlighting the relevance of their subjects
- The My Learning, My Future Inspiration Guides also support staff towards linking curriculum to careers
Careers in the Curriculum – Modelling Tool Guide
Three different approaches are recommended within the modelling tool. A Careers Leader may be co-ordinating activity across all the approaches, at any one time, as approaches can happen in tandem across different subject areas.
The resource breaks down each of the approaches and includes supporting resources of audit tools and checklists to support Careers Leaders in working through the key elements to each approach. Each of the checklists cover the key elements of learning outcomes, audit, engaging SLT, tracking & recording, impact measurement, resource, time for delivery and employer engagement.
As a minimum, and as a solid starting point, all subject areas should be following the ‘foundation approach’ with every teacher highlighting the relevance of their subject to career pathways.
Ensuring an entitlement of provision for all young people and building an enduring ‘careers in the curriculum’ model is achieved through implementation of the ‘careers across the curriculum approach’ and the ‘employer enriched curriculum learning approach’ where careers and curriculum learning outcomes are aligned to school priorities. Read more about this here.
The breakdown of the different approaches is as follows.
Foundation approach
The key features of this approach are:
- A progressive careers programme designed by the Careers Leader which is delivered primarily in time dedicated for careers learning
- Curriculum staff highlight the relevance of subjects to careers; the relationship between subjects, future jobs and skills is clearly outlined and students are supported to understand potential pathways from subjects
- Accountability for the programme resides with the Career Leader who defines the careers learning outcomes
Read more about it here.
Read the checklist here.
Careers across the curriculum
The key features of this approach are:
- A progressive careers programme exists, interventions are delivered in curriculum time through a range of interventions delivered by subject teachers or in time dedicated for careers
- Best practice is where subject teachers clearly understand and are mobilised to deliver, with intent, progressive career learning outcomes identified within a strategic careers plan
- Careers learning outcomes are integrated with curriculum learning outcomes
- Resources are developed with employers’ input
- Subject teachers may also be working independently with employers to deliver curriculum learning outcomes with reference to the world of work
- Employers may be present or could be involved virtually
Read the checklist here.
Employer enriched curriculum learning approach
The Employer Enriched Curriculum Learning approach is characterised by best practice identified by:
- Having a progressive careers programme in place where interventions are delivered by subject teachers. Careers learning outcomes and curriculum learning outcomes are integrated and learning is applied to the world of work
- Subject teachers clearly understanding and are mobilised to deliver, with intent, progressive career learning outcomes identified within a strategic careers plan and mapped against curriculum learning outcomes included in schemes of work
- Learning includes encounters with employers and experiences of the world of work
- Curriculum learning, and career learning outcomes are delivered through a meaningful employer encounter and/or experience of work which are often project based and aligned to Gatsby Benchmarks 5 and 6
Read the checklist here.