Every young person at Carshalton Boys Sixth Form has a right to careers guidance that is structured, ambitious and reviewed for impact — not left to chance. We design, deliver and evaluate our provision against the Gatsby Benchmarks, the national framework for world-class careers guidance in schools and colleges, and we track our progress termly using Compass, the Government's official self-evaluation tool.
This isn't a compliance exercise. It is the scaffolding that ensures every student — regardless of background, ability or ambition — encounters the people, information and experiences they need to make an informed, well-supported decision about their future.

The National Framework - The Gatsby Benchmarks

Developed by the Gatsby Charitable Foundation and adopted as the Government's benchmark for careers provision, these eight standards define what excellent careers guidance looks like in practice. Here is how each one lives inside our sixth form.

1	A stable careers programme Every student follows a structured careers programme across both years of sixth form, delivered through Aspire, tutor time and Academic Enrichment, and published to students, parents and employers.

2	Learning from career and labour market information Students research live labour market data, salary trajectories and entry routes on Unifrog, ensuring decisions are grounded in evidence rather than assumption.

3	Addressing the needs of each pupil Guidance is personalised through one-to-one Prospects adviser sessions, with additional support targeted at SEND and disadvantaged students so that background is never a barrier to ambition.

4	Linking curriculum learning to careers Subject teachers make explicit links between A-level and vocational content and related careers, reinforcing that every course studied opens real, identifiable pathways.

5	Encounters with employers and employees Students meet employers through Directions & Destinations Day, Futures Friday sessions and visiting speakers from over 100 employer partners, including Barclays, the Metropolitan Police and Imperial College.

6	Experiences of workplaces A full week of in-person work experience, supplemented by virtual placements via Springpod, gives every student direct exposure to real working environments before they leave.

7	Encounters with further and higher education University visits, Russell Group and Oxbridge preparation, and taster sessions with further education and apprenticeship providers run throughout Year 12 and 13.

8	Personal guidance Every student receives at least one confidential, impartial guidance interview with a qualified adviser, with priority access for those who need it most.

How we measure impact - Evaluated termly through Compass

Compass is the national online tool that allows schools to benchmark their careers provision against the eight Gatsby standards. Our Careers Leader completes a full self-evaluation every term, identifying strengths and areas for development, and reports outcomes to school leadership and governors.   

What this means in practice

• A named Careers Leader with governance oversight and dedicated time to lead the programme.

• Termly Compass self-evaluation, benchmarked against the national average and shared with senior leadership.

• A published Careers Programme and Provider Access Policy, reviewed annually and available to students, parents and providers.

• Destinations data tracked for every leaver, with particular attention paid to disadvantaged and SEND students to ensure guidance is reaching those who need it most.

• Direct feedback from students and employer partners used to refine the programme year on year.

Careers Leader: pcowell@carshaltonboys.org

Provider Access Policy available HERE
Most recent 6th Form Compass Report HERE
Our careers strategy is published in full HERE