Source · Select Committees · Education Committee
Recommendation 27
27
Accepted
Paragraph: 101
Develop a toolkit defining meaningful work experience for Gatsby benchmark objectives.
Conclusion
The goals set out in the Gatsby benchmark of experiences of the workplace provide a useful framework for schools to follow, but schools must ensure that opportunities are of high quality and tailored to pupils’ individual needs and aspirations rather than following a ‘tick-box’ approach to organising placements. The Department should work with the Careers and Enterprise Company to develop a toolkit setting out what constitutes meaningful work experience to count towards the Gatsby benchmark objectives and ensure that this is shared with Careers Leaders in schools and colleges.
Government Response Summary
The government agrees and highlights that the CEC has already developed a new resource hub containing tools and guidance, including an employer handbook and pupil workbook, which sets out what constitutes high-quality work experience. They will also review statutory guidance from Spring 2024 to strengthen content on work experience.
Paragraph Reference:
101
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The Government agrees with the Committee that schools must ensure that work experience opportunities are of high quality and tailored to pupils’ individual needs and aspirations. We have made experiences of the workplace a strategic priority for Careers Hubs in 2023–24. The CEC is supporting Careers Hubs, schools and colleges to increase experiences of the workplace for young people. This includes a new resource hub that hosts a range of tools, resources and templates (including an employer handbook and a pupil workbook) and provides clear guidance to schools and colleges, employers and work experience providers on what constitutes high-quality work experience. At our next planned spring 2024 review of the careers statutory guidance and each subsequent annual update, we will consider how we can continue to strengthen the content on work experience, setting clear expectations for schools and colleges.