Addressing the Needs of Each Pupil
Pupils have different career guidance needs at different stages. Opportunities for advice and support need to be tailored to the needs of each pupil.
What Benchmark 3 means in practice
Schools must provide personalised careers support — not a one-size-fits-all programme. This means identifying students with particular needs (SEND, Pupil Premium, looked-after children) and ensuring they receive targeted guidance.
What evidence is required
- Individual guidance records for each student
- Evidence of tailored support for vulnerable groups (SEND, PP, LAC)
- Tracking of student career aspirations and development over time
- Records showing differentiated activities by year group
Common activities that satisfy Benchmark 3
- 1:1 guidance interviews with a qualified careers adviser
- Targeted interventions for students at risk of NEET
- Personalised action plans after guidance sessions
- Monitoring of progress for disadvantaged groups
How Chapter Schools tracks Benchmark 3
Chapter's student profiles track every touchpoint across all 8 benchmarks, flagging students who haven't received key interventions. You can filter by Pupil Premium, SEND, or year group to identify gaps and trigger targeted support.
Frequently asked questions
What does Gatsby Benchmark 3 require schools to do?
Benchmark 3 requires schools to tailor careers support to individual student needs, with particular attention to vulnerable groups including SEND students, Pupil Premium pupils, and looked-after children. Schools must track each student's career development over time and ensure no one is left behind.
How do you evidence personalised careers support for Gatsby Benchmark 3?
Evidence includes individual guidance session records, personalised action plans, intervention records for disadvantaged students, and data showing the range of activities each student has accessed across their school career.
Does every student need a 1:1 guidance session to meet Benchmark 3?
By the time they finish secondary school, every student should have had at least one meaningful interaction with a qualified careers adviser. Benchmark 3 also requires ongoing tracking of student needs throughout their school career, not just a single session.
Related Gatsby Benchmarks
Stop manually tracking Benchmark 3
Chapter Schools automatically maps every activity to all 8 Gatsby Benchmarks. Book a demo to see your school's compliance dashboard.
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