Updated stautory guidance on careers guidance 

On 8 May 2025, the DfE updated its statutory careers guidance. It’s important that schools and colleges adhere to the new guidance. It includes slight changes to the Gatsby Benchmarks, which will come into force from September 2025. It also recommends that all schools and colleges work towards the national Quality in Careers Standard to support the development of their careers programme.

Whoever is responsible for careers information, advice and guidance in your school or college must read and act on both this updated guidance and the updated Gatsby Benchmarks.

The key changes are:
  • an overview of the changes to the Gatsby Benchmarks
  • information on the amendments to the descriptive and measurable elements of the eight benchmarks
  • the DfE’s expectations of what schools and colleges should do to meet the updated benchmarks
  • preparing for the future introduction of a guarantee of two weeks’ worth of work experience for every young person