The 8 benchmarks are a framework for good career guidance created to support 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 and now form part of the government’s careers strategy, launched December 2017.

The Gatsby Benchmarks have a key role in:

• raising young people’s aspirations and promoting access to all career pathways;

• enabling all young people to develop the skills and outlook they need to achieve career wellbeing, including adaptability and resilience;

• underpinning the Department for Education guidance to schools on meeting their statutory responsibility for careers guidance.

The eight Gatsby benchmarks of Good Career Guidance

1. A stable careers programme
2. Learning from career and labour market information
3. Addressing the needs of each pupil
4. Linking curriculum learning to careers
5. Encounters with employers and employees
6. Experiences of workplaces
7. Encounters with further and higher education
8. Personal guidance

In October 2022, DESC achieved 96% against the Gatsby Benchmark. We monitor our compliance of the careers and education guidance on a termly basis. 

The next review of DESC's careers and education guidance will be in January 2023.