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Staff

Gatsby Benchmarks – How We Meet Them

At Sandy Secondary School, we are committed to meeting all eight Gatsby Benchmarks, which define the essential elements of good careers guidance. Our careers provision is monitored and evaluated within the whole school improvement plan, and we have a dedicated Careers Leader and a link governor who take responsibility for overseeing and developing careers education across the school.

We monitor and evaluate our careers policy annually and impact and feedback is sought regularly by the careers leader via evaluations and surveys. Our destinations are closely tracked for Year 11 and 13 leavers, and we have a dedicated budget for careers. Key information for students, parents, teachers and employers can be found on the careers section of our website.

Gatsby Benchmarks logo featuring a stylised running figure on the left with the company name in grey and white text
Teacher in science laboratory classroom standing at workbench with equipment and periodic table on wall

The Eight Gatsby Benchmarks

A Stable Careers Programme

We have a dedicated Careers Leader and link governor who oversee and quality-assure careers education across the school. Our careers policy is monitored and evaluated annually within the whole school improvement plan, with destinations closely tracked for Year 11 and 13 leavers.

Learning from Career & Labour Market Information

From Year 7 onwards, students access careers learning through Personal Development lessons, tutor sessions, and drop-down days, with at least 25% of sessions dedicated to careers. Our interactive online resource hub and Unifrog platform provide up-to-date information, supported by a careers drop-in service and targeted small-group intervention.

Addressing the Needs of Each Pupil

We organise events, visits and speakers to raise aspirations and challenge stereotypical thinking. Unifrog and destination data from Central Bedfordshire Council help us address key issues and support every student's next steps on their learning journey.

Linking Curriculum Learning to Careers

Linking curriculum to careers is embedded in our CPD and meeting structure. Staff are developing the use of Unifrog to share Labour Market Information and careers-related opportunities, and are encouraged to participate in activities connecting their subject to wider further and higher education options.

Encounters with Employers & Employees

All students have the opportunity to meet a range of employers through guest speakers, careers fairs, mock interviews, assemblies, lunchtime stalls and external visits.

Experience of Workplaces

We run work shadowing for Year 10 and Year 12, with plans to extend to Year 8. Year 10 and 12 students complete a full week of workplace experience, ensuring at least one meaningful encounter by the end of Key Stage 4 and Key Stage 5.

Encounters with Further & Higher Education

Students have meaningful encounters with colleges, universities and training providers through parents' evenings, careers fairs, lectures, workshops, and targeted events. By the end of Key Stage 4 and 5, students have the opportunity to visit a university, with Year 12 receiving dedicated UCAS days and personal statement support.

Personal Guidance

We are appointing and training a careers advisor who will be a member of the Career Development Institute. Parents and students from any year group will be able to request careers appointments, with all students receiving at least one careers chat by the end of Year 8 and targeted support for SEND, Looked After Children and high achievers.