Personal Guidance
Every pupil should have opportunities for guidance interviews with a careers adviser, who could be internal (a member of staff) or external, provided they are suitably qualified.
What Benchmark 8 means in practice
Every student must have access to personal, one-to-one careers guidance from a qualified careers adviser. The adviser must hold a recognised qualification (e.g., QCG, CDI-accredited) — not just any member of staff.
What evidence is required
- Individual guidance session records with student details
- Adviser qualifications and accreditation records
- Coverage data showing all students have accessed guidance
- Action plans or follow-up records from guidance sessions
Common activities that satisfy Benchmark 8
- 1:1 guidance interviews with a qualified careers adviser (internal or external)
- Group guidance sessions for specific cohorts
- Follow-up action plans shared with students and parents
- Tracking of guidance referrals and outcomes
How Chapter Schools tracks Benchmark 8
Chapter's Guidance module logs every 1:1 session, stores action plans, tracks follow-up interventions, and shows you at a glance which students haven't yet received guidance. Adviser qualification records are stored centrally for Ofsted evidence.
Frequently asked questions
What qualifications does a careers adviser need for Gatsby Benchmark 8?
To meet Benchmark 8, guidance must be provided by someone with a recognised careers qualification. Accepted qualifications include the QCG (Qualification in Career Guidance), Level 6 Diploma in Career Guidance and Development, or CDI-accredited equivalents. An unqualified teacher providing 'careers chats' does not satisfy Benchmark 8.
How often should students receive personal guidance for Benchmark 8?
The Gatsby Benchmarks don't specify a minimum frequency, but good practice is at least one meaningful guidance interview per student in key transition years — typically Year 9 (GCSE options), Year 11 (post-16 choices), and Year 13 (post-18). More frequent access is better.
Can schools use an external careers adviser for Gatsby Benchmark 8?
Yes. Schools can use an internal qualified Careers Leader or an external careers adviser from a local service or private provider. What matters is that the person delivering guidance holds a recognised qualification and that every student has access to their services.
Related Gatsby Benchmarks
Stop manually tracking Benchmark 8
Chapter Schools automatically maps every activity to all 8 Gatsby Benchmarks. Book a demo to see your school's compliance dashboard.
Book a free demo