Benchmark 8

Personal Guidance

UPDATED TERMINOLOGY - The term ‘guidance interview’ has been updated to ‘guidance meeting’ Using the word ‘meeting’ better reflects the purposeful and supportive conversations that take place between careers advisers and young people, where options are explored, plans are agreed and decisions are made.
AWARENESS AND TIMING OF PERSONAL GUIDANCE - It is important that young people, staff, and parents and carers understand what personal guidance support is available and how it is accessed. Young people want to know not just how and when they can access support, but what they should do to prepare for it.164 Benchmark 8 has been updated to state that information about personal guidance support and how to access it should be communicated to young people and parents and carers, including through the institution’s website. Benchmark 8 now states that meetings should be scheduled in the careers programme to meet the individual needs of the young person. Benchmark 8 for schools also states that every young person should have a further meeting by the age of 18, where it previously required them to have the opportunity for a further meeting.

TAILORED PERSONAL GUIDANCE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE’S NEEDS - Personal guidance can be especially beneficial for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, and those with SEND.165 It is particularly important that young people with SEND know how to access personal guidance, understand what will take place in the meeting and which staff will be involved. Both the content of the meeting and the way it is delivered should be tailored to individual needs
CAREERS ADVISERS AND KEY STAFF- To ensure personal guidance is effective and embedded in the careers programme, we have updated Benchmark 8 to state that the careers leader should work closely with the careers adviser, SENDCO and other key staff. For example, this could include subject teachers, mentors and senior leaders. Careers advisors are most effective when they are known by staff, are visible to young people, parents and carers, and have access to data to inform their personal guidance meetings with young people.