About this platform | Primary Schools Toolkit

We have funded the design and creation of the information, resources and tools here to help primary schools plan, deliver and measure career-related learning.

Free, high-quality resources

Our platform provides teachers and school leaders with high-quality resources that can be used to embed and deliver career-related learning. The resources are free for you to download and most are from organisations that have been funded to test what works at primary, as well as other trusted providers. Resources include:

Lesson activities
Guidance for involving governors in career-related learning
Guidance for engaging employers
A quiz, designed in collaboration with Skills Builder, that will help you to assess your approach to career-related learning
Case studies that illustrate how the resources have been used in different schools

You can access and download resources for free.

See the resources

Take the quiz

Read the case studies

Key principles for career-related learning

Primary schools can use these resources and tools to implement a whole-school approach to career-related learning that aligns with six key principles, as evidenced in the ‘What Works’ report:

Involve employers and parents

It is important that people with real-life, authentic experience of workplaces are included when teaching pupils about jobs and careers.

Start early

Pupils form perceptions about the relevance and suitability of different sectors and career paths from an early age, so it is important that career-related learning starts as early as age 5.

Ensure activities are personalised and relevant to the age group

Primary career-related activities are most effective when they take into account pupils' ages and needs.

Embed into the curriculum

Impact is greater when a consistent and whole-school strategy is in place, linking career-related learning to curriculum content.

Embed in a whole-school approach and driven by senior leaders

The relationship between career-related learning and the aims and ethos of your school should be clear, ensuring buy-in from curriculum staff, subject leaders and senior leadership team.

Open to all

Career-related learning should not be targeted at a particular group – instead it should be offered universally to all pupils in your school.

Who is this platform for?

Primary educators

Primary teachers, school leaders and support staff can use these resources to plan, deliver and identify next steps in career-related learning. Teachers are busy and do not always have time to plan quality career-related learning. The resources and tools included on our platform will save you time and prompt new ideas for career-related learning.

School governors

Teachers can use these resources to help them involve their governing body in career-related learning. Governors and trustees can find out more about the importance and impact of career-related learning in primary schools.

Secondary schools and careers leaders

Secondary schools and Careers Leaders can use this platform to find out more about career-related learning in primary school. This will be particularly useful for secondary educators who work with pupils during the transition between primary and secondary school. Some resources may also provide ideas that help secondary teachers meet the Gatsby Benchmarks.

Employers

Employers can find out more about career-related learning in primary schools, including how they can help pupils learn about the world of work and make career-related learning effective. Teachers can also use the resources to learn more about working with employers to deliver career-related learning.

Providers

Organisations who provide career-related learning support, resources or programmes can use the information gathered on this platform to find out more about supporting primary schools and explore examples of good practice. Teachers may find it useful to find out about the range of programmes available for schools.

Parents, carers and families

Parents, carers and families can use this platform to understand more about career-related learning in primary schools and how it can help to broaden pupils’ aspirations. Parents, carers and families can also use the resources to get involved in career-related learning in school, or even complete some of the activities at home.

Who's behind this platform?

This platform is the result of 15 pilot projects funded by the Department for Education, designed to find out what works at primary. Most of the resources on this platform have been designed and created by organisations involved in this pilot.

Our mission is to prepare and inspire young people for the fast-changing world of work.

Our role is to link schools and colleges to employers and to help them deliver world-class careers support for all young people.

Visit the CEC website

We believe society should ensure all children and young people receive the support they need to make a fulfilling transition to adulthood.

Visit the CfEY website