Government urges schools, colleges and ITPs to plan now for updated Gatsby Benchmarks
On 1 May 2025, the government published updated guidance confirming that from September 2025 all secondary schools, colleges and independent training providers (ITPs) are expected to adopt the updated Gatsby Benchmarks.
This is the first time guidance on the benchmarks has applied to ITPs with learners aged up to 18 (or up to 25 with an education, health and care plan).
The updated guidance calls on headteachers, principals and governing boards to fully back their careers leaders and invest in high-quality careers programmes. It highlights how a whole-institution approach to careers guidance can support wider priorities, including attendance, behaviour, wellbeing, inclusion and attainment, helping young people to achieve their full potential.
The government has also confirmed that its new Work Experience Guarantee will align with the strengthened definition of meaningful workplace experiences set out in updates to Benchmark 6.
The refreshed Gatsby Benchmarks, published in late 2024 as part of Good Career Guidance: The Next Ten Years, were the result of two years of research and consultation. While the eight benchmarks themselves remain unchanged, practical refinements have been introduced to strengthen key areas such as inclusion, leadership, data use and parental engagement, ensuring the framework remains based on the latest evidence and best practice.
Gatsby, alongside the Careers & Enterprise Company, has launched a range of resources to support schools, colleges and ITPs in preparing for the transition. These include a new Champion Hub showcasing best practice, updated toolkits for schools and colleges and ITPs, and free e-learning courses to help educators understand the changes and plan effectively.
The updated benchmarks capture best practice and demonstrate what works. Evidence strongly shows that embedding good career guidance into the heart of school, college and ITP strategies improves young people’s life chances and contributes to whole-institution improvement.
With one term to go until implementation the guidance strongly encourages institutions to begin planning now to ensure a smooth transition to the updated framework from the start of the 2025/26 academic year.
The updated government guidance is available here.
