The Gatsby Benchmarks
The eight benchmarks are a framework for good career guidance developed to support secondary schools and colleges in providing students with the best possible careers education, information, advice, and guidance.
They were established as part of Sir John Holman's research into what pragmatic actions could improve career guidance in England. Based on international best practice, they set out what a world-class career guidance system looks like. The Benchmarks are part of the careers strategy (launched December 2017) and statutory guidance for secondary schools and colleges since 2018.
Our Careers Curriculum
The Act Fast Careers Curriculum strives to provide students with inspirational, achievable, and current information, advice, and guidance to allow individuals to make informed choices for their future. Our aim is to develop confident, well-prepared individuals who know what they want from their future and how to achieve it.
We achieve this by using interactive careers guidance and utilising a wide range of resources that are flexible and inclusive. We provide everyone with the information, key skills, analysis, and positivity to enable them to pursue their aspirations. We are committed to nurturing their interests, excitement and creativity and strive to give impartial encouraging advice.
Actfast career programme has 6 priority outcomes:
· Explore potential progression pathways.
Gatsby benchmarks – 3,4,5,6,7,8
· Provide 1-1 impartial advice.
Gatsby benchmarks – 3,8
· Develop and enhance employability skills.
Gatsby Benchmarks – 4,5,6,7
· Create Employer Links
Gatsby benchmarks – 5,6
· Use up-to-date labour market data to inform ideas and, through discussion, support students to make the right choices.
Gatsby Benchmarks 3,8,2
· Support applications for apprenticeships, employment, and further training.
Gatsby benchmarks – 3,5,7,8
Actfast builds strategic relationships with our working partners, this builds stronger engagement, both internally and externally ensuring innovation and collaboration can grow and improve. By assessing the individual needs, aspirations, and dreams of each individual student we will ensure continuous improvement and encourage students into the employment market.
Our working partners include Taylor Woodrow, S&E Engineering, RES.Digital, New Century Foods, MD Holmes to name a few. Employability is about far more than just getting a job, it also about having transferable core skills and appropriate attitude. The employers Actfast work with, understand the needs of our students and proactively work with us to ensure student well-being and progression.