Information For Staff
At King James I Academy, we believe that careers education is most effective when it is part of everyday teaching and learning, not just delivered through occasional careers lessons. Embedding careers within subject lessons helps students understand the purpose and relevance of their learning and how it connects to their future opportunities.
Supporting students’ understanding and motivation
When careers are woven into lessons, students are more likely to:
- See how what they are learning is used in the real world
- Understand how subjects link to a wide range of careers and pathways
- Stay motivated and engaged because learning feels meaningful
- Make informed decisions about subjects, qualifications, and future routes
This approach ensures careers education is consistent and meaningful for all students.
The role of subject teaching
Teachers play a vital role in careers education by:
- Showing how subject knowledge applies in real-life contexts
- Highlighting subject-specific careers and progression routes
- Developing and reinforcing transferable skills such as communication, problem-solving, teamwork, and resilience
- Helping raise aspirations and confidence through everyday classroom experiences
Hearing about careers directly from subject specialists makes this learning more authentic and impactful.
A whole-school approach
Embedding careers across the curriculum supports:
- Equal access to careers education for all students
- Better preparation for key transition points
- Successful progression into further education, training, apprenticeships, or employment
This approach also supports our commitment to Gatsby Benchmark 4, which focuses on linking curriculum learning to careers.
Supporting staff with resources
To support the embedding of careers within lessons, a wide range of careers resources and useful links are provided below. These are designed to help staff easily and effectively integrate careers learning into lessons, schemes of work, homework, and enrichment activities.
By embedding careers into everyday learning, King James I Academy ensures students understand not only what they are learning, but why it matters, helping them to develop ambition, confidence, and clear future goals.
Unifrog
Teachers can use Unifrog to easily embed careers into everyday lessons and help students understand how their learning links to future pathways.
Unifrog allows teachers to:
- Link lesson content to subject-specific careers and real-world applications
- Use career profiles, videos, and articles to add context to learning
- Embed careers links into teaching slides, starters, plenaries, or homework
- Encourage students to reflect on the skills they are developing and record evidence in their Unifrog profiles
Unifrog also supports independent learning, enabling students to explore pathways such as apprenticeships, college, T Levels, and university outside of lesson time.
Using Unifrog in lessons directly supports Gatsby Benchmark 4 by making clear, consistent links between curriculum learning and careers, helping students see the purpose of their education and make informed choices about their future.
National Careers Service
The NCS provides information, advice and guidance to help students make decisions on learning, training and work opportunities. The service offers confidential and impartial advice and is supported by qualified careers advisers. You can chat with an adviser using webchat (8am to 10pm, 7days a week). Or you can call 0800 100 900 to speak to an adviser (8am to 10pm, 7 days a week). Calls are free from landlines and most mobile numbers.
https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/
National Apprenticeship Service
Apprenticeships.org offers guidance on how to apply for an apprenticeship as well as listing current local apprenticeship opportunities. More information on apprenticeships can also be found on the Amazing Apprenticeships website.
https://www.gov.uk/education/further-and-higher-education-skills-and-vocational-training
www.amazingapprenticeships.com
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STEM Learning
This is a valuable resource that supports teachers in embedding careers learning into STEM subjects and across the wider curriculum.
The site provides:
- High-quality, curriculum-linked teaching resources
- Careers information and real-world examples linked to science, technology, engineering and maths
- Ideas for lessons, projects, and enrichment activities that highlight STEM careers
- Access to workshops, events, and employer-led opportunities
- Guidance that supports Gatsby Benchmark 4 by linking learning to future pathways
STEM.org.uk helps teachers show students how STEM subjects connect to real jobs, industries, and skills, making learning more relevant, engaging, and purposeful.
Gatsby
The Gatsby Foundation education site is a valuable resource for schools and teachers looking to strengthen their careers education provision. It is built around the Gatsby Benchmarks, an internationally recognised framework defining what excellent careers guidance looks like in schools and colleges.
Through the site, teachers and careers leaders can access:
Guidance on the Gatsby Benchmarks
Clear explanations of each of the eight benchmarks, including Benchmark 4 (linking curriculum learning to careers), which helps teachers understand how to connect subject teaching with future careers and pathways.
Practical tools and frameworks
Information on tools such as Compass and Compass+, which support schools to plan, evaluate and improve their careers programmes, including curriculum links and employer engagement.
Best practice and reports
Research, case studies, and publications demonstrating effective careers education in action, offering inspiration and evidence-based approaches to enhance teaching and learning.
Support for all learners
Guidance on how to ensure careers provision is inclusive and supports students with diverse needs, including those with SEND.
By using the Gatsby site, teachers can embed careers meaningfully into lessons, understand how careers education links to national expectations, and access tools and examples to support planning and improvement. This helps make careers education a consistent and recognised part of every student’s learning journey.
The Careers and Enterprise Company
The CEC offers a wide range of support to secondary schools, specialist settings and post-16 providers through our Careers Hubs alongside nationally available digital products, resources and training to help drive continuous improvement in careers education. We also offer support to primary settings, including CPD courses and resources for career-related learning.
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