Gatsby Benchmark 2

Learning from Career and Labour Market Information

All pupils, parents and carers, teachers and staff who support pupils should have access to good-quality, up-to-date information about future pathways, study options and labour market opportunities.

What Benchmark 2 means in practice

During each Key Stage, all pupils should not just receive labour market information but actively access and use it to inform their own decisions on study options or next steps. The updated benchmark widens the audience: parents and carers should be encouraged and supported to use it too, and so should teachers and every member of staff who supports pupils.

What evidence is required

  • Evidence that pupils accessed and used LMI to inform their own choices, in each Key Stage
  • Parents and carers encouraged and supported to access and use LMI
  • Teachers and support staff with access to up-to-date pathway and labour market information
  • Information accessible and tailored for pupils with SEND and their families

Activities that satisfy Benchmark 2

  • LMI sessions in PSHE or careers lessons
  • Careers fairs showcasing local employer demand
  • Labour market data displayed in careers areas
  • Parent information evenings covering post-16 and post-18 options

How Chapter tracks it

Benchmark 2 evidence, without the data entry

Students explore sectors, roles and real ONS occupation pay in Chapter's LMI explorer, synced from the Chapter app. Every exploration is captured per pupil and pulled into guidance and lessons - no manual research.

In Chapter Schools

  • Courses & LMI explorerEvidences it

    The course, sector and real ONS pay data pupils explore - every view is logged per pupil and graded on LMI depth.

  • Guidance SessionsEvidences it

    LMI discussed in a 1:1 is captured against that pupil and feeds the 'what pupils discuss' picture.

  • Chapter FamilyEvidences it

    Gets parent-friendly LMI to families - an explicit BM2 criterion, not an optional extra.

  • Local skills-needs report

    Regional labour-market demand, so the LMI pupils see reflects your actual local economy.

  • Lessons catalogue

    Ready-made LMI decks that deliver the exposure to a whole class in one slot.

In the Chapter game

  • Explore zone, course search & salary viewsEvidences it

    Pupils exploring zones, searching courses and viewing salaries in the game writes BM2 evidence automatically, graded on LMI depth and recency.

  • Student account linking

    Links pupils' game accounts to their school record - unlinked pupils generate no in-game evidence at all.

See the platform view for Benchmark 2

Frequently asked questions

What is Labour Market Information (LMI) in the context of Gatsby Benchmarks?
Labour Market Information (LMI) is data about the world of work - which jobs are in demand, average salaries, regional employment trends, and future skills needs. Gatsby Benchmark 2 requires that pupils, parents and carers, teachers and all staff who support pupils have access to good-quality, up-to-date information, and that pupils actively use it to inform their own decisions during each Key Stage.
How do schools evidence Gatsby Benchmark 2?
Evidence includes records of LMI resources used in lessons, guidance session notes referencing LMI data, parent events with careers information, and examples of students using LMI in career planning activities.
What LMI sources are acceptable for Gatsby Benchmark 2?
The National Careers Service, Lightcast (formerly EMSI), regional LEP data, and sector-specific salary surveys are all acceptable sources. The key requirement is that the information is current and relevant to your school's region and student cohort.

Related Gatsby Benchmarks

Stop reconstructing Benchmark 2 after the fact

Build a demo school and watch Benchmark 2 evidence itself from real activity, alongside the other seven.