The updated 2024 statutory guidance makes careers education everyone’s responsibility, not just those working in careers.
While previous guidance encouraged linking curriculum learning to careers, the new rules make this a clear statutory requirement. You must now ensure students regularly see how their subjects connect to future pathways, whether further study, apprenticeships, or work. These links must be meaningful, embedded, and consistent, not one-off mentions or themed weeks.
Why? Because when students understand the relevance of their learning, they make better decisions about their futures.
What’s new in the 2024 guidance?
The statutory duty now requires schools and colleges to link curriculum learning to careers regularly and explicitly, with key points including:
- this applies to all subjects across the curriculum, not just PSHE or enrichment
- career links must be embedded and relevant in everyday teaching
- by age 14, all pupils should have learned how STEM subjects connect to a wide range of careers
It’s not about creating new lessons but making stronger, planned links from existing curriculum content to careers. Here are some ways to do that.
1. Start with what’s already there
Many subjects cover real-world content but need clearer career links. Work with subject leaders to highlight these connections, even adding a simple careers icon to lessons helps students spot the link.
2. Use the UCAS Hub to link learning and careers
Through subject and industry guides, students can explore how each school subject connects to degrees and related career options. It also allows students to research courses, apprenticeships, and job roles linked to their interests, view entry requirements and key skills, and understand how these relate to what they are studying now.
3. Keep it curriculum-first, not careers-only
Benchmark 4 is about showing students the relevance of their subjects, not creating separate careers lessons. Support and encourage teachers to use simple prompts like, 'This skill is used in…' or 'People in [job role] apply this when…' Regular, brief references build connections between learning and work.
4. Support teachers without overloading them
Teachers aren’t careers experts, so need practical support. Build a resource bank with ready-to-use examples from UCAS and the Careers & Enterprise Company, ‘My Learning, My Future’ directory by showing how 27 subjects connect to careers and the world of work. They enable subject teachers to see the benefits of highlighting the relevance of their subjects and making links to careers, pathways, and the world of work from their curriculum.
5. Connect the dots across subjects with integrated career challenges
Use interdisciplinary activities that show how different subjects combine in real careers, like a project highlighting how maths, science, and English skills come together in engineering or healthcare. This helps students see the bigger picture and how their learning fits the world of work.
Strong career connections in the curriculum don’t just prepare students, they inspire them to own their future, all while confidently meeting Gatsby Benchmark 4.
