Gatsby Benchmarks

Gatsby Benchmark suggests: 'Every school and college should have an embedded programme of career education and guidance that is known and understood by pupils, parents, teachers, governors and employers.' 

We provide professional support to inspire and provide awareness of local career sectors, build careers programmes, and bespoke pathways, skills, knowledge and experiences for Bradford young people aged 4-19 years. 

Using a framework of 15 sectors and 78 pathways to drive a stable and local careers programme within and across the District’s schools/colleges and the University of Bradford to ensure career education and guidance is embedded in their career plan/strategy and operational practice. We also have a team of qualified advice & guidance practitioners who are based in schools across Bradford District to support with implementing a stable careers programme and providing impartial career guidance to young people.

Gatsby Benchmark suggests: 'Every pupil, 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.'

Our 9 Industry Sector Boards are employer-led by local employers from the District to ensure we receive and use up to date careers and labour market information. In particular, skills shortages and gaps in the Bradford market.

We also work closely in partnership with our local authority colleagues and the combined authority to ensure we receive up to date career & labour market information both locally & nationally.

Gatsby Benchmark suggests: 'Pupils have different career guidance needs at different stages. Opportunities for advice and support need to be tailored to the needs of each pupil. A school’s careers programme should embed equality and diversity considerations throughout. '

We have industry employers, associate employers and learning partners providing opportunities to young people across the District, ensuring we address the needs of all young people. We work with key organisations to support their EDI strategy to provide young people with role exposure to support diversity initiatives.

Our qualified advice & guidance practitioners provide one to one career guidance support to young people, ensuring addressing the needs of each young person within the District.

Gatsby Benchmark suggests: 'All teachers should link curriculum learning with careers. STEM subject teachers should highlight the relevance of STEM subjects for a wide range of future career paths. '

By working with industry experts, we know first-hand the knowledge & skills sets required by our local employers.  We offer a strategic and subject-specific support service to map your schools offer against the curriculum.  Once gaps are identified in the learning, we work with you as ‘animators of change’ to convene programmes/projects/sessions between yourselves and employers to ensure the curriculum links to careers. 

Gatsby Benchmark suggests: 'Every pupil 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.' 

We recognise that the key to a successful employer encounter is ensuring educators are also aware of different industry sectors/pathways. We also work with local employers to provide educators with CPD to enhance their knowledge and experience in a particular industry sector.

We can support any meaningful encounters with employers and employees, ensuring this is linked to a clear pathway leading to progression.

Gatsby Benchmark suggests: Every pupil 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.'

We work in partnership with Xperience (Bradford Local Authority Work Placements & Outdoor Education Team) to ensure schools across the District receive the support needed to organise work placements, ensuring adequate Health & Safety in line with HSE requirements. As well as working with young people enrolled onto our sector pathways to provide them with practical experience of workplaces and role exposures.

Gatsby Benchmark suggests: 'All pupils 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.'

We partner with the University of Bradford alongside key colleges, Keighley, Shipley, Bradford and New College, to provide clear pathways to students. Local partners, including our partnership with Queens College Cambridge, aid young people in making informed decisions about their next steps and providing a clear understanding of the different routes and pathways available and support access.

Gatsby Benchmark Suggests: 'Every pupil should have opportunities for guidance interviews with a career 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 pupils but should be timed to meet their individual needs.'

Our team of Careers Advisers, qualified to level 6 in Careers guidance, are highly experienced in all aspects of delivering Careers related activities and excel in providing impartial, independent careers guidance to students in schools.

Our services include one-to-one focussed, careers guidance interviews, sessions on career planning, support in making a well-informed choice, raising aspirations and transition planning at key stages.