Teaching careers throughout the curriculum, rather than only in stand-alone careers lessons, helps young people clearly understand their options and see the purpose behind their learning. When careers education is woven into everyday lessons, it becomes a natural and meaningful part of school life rather than something separate or occasional.

Why embedding careers across subjects matters

Careers education is most effective when it is continuous, relevant, and clearly linked to learning. Embedding careers across subjects enables students to:

• See how classroom learning applies to real jobs and industries
• Recognise that every subject can lead to a range of future opportunities
• Stay motivated by understanding the relevance of what they are learning
• Develop the transferable skills valued by employers and training providers

This approach helps students make sense of their education and supports long-term aspirations.

The role of subject teachers

Subject teachers are key to effective careers education. They:

• Demonstrate how subject knowledge is used in real-world contexts
• Introduce careers and pathways linked directly to their subject
• Highlight the skills students develop, such as creativity, problem-solving, teamwork, and analytical thinking
• Reinforce messages about progression, training routes, and future opportunities

Hearing careers information in context, from subject specialists, makes learning more credible and impactful.

Impact on students

When careers are embedded across the curriculum, students are better able to:

• Make informed decisions about subjects and future pathways
• Understand links between different subjects and career areas
• Explore a variety of routes into employment, training, and higher education
• Feel confident and prepared when making key decisions

Dedicated careers lessons remain important for structured guidance, reflection, and access to specialist support. However, careers learning has the greatest impact when it is reinforced consistently across all subjects.

A whole-school approach

A whole-school approach ensures that careers education:

• Is consistent and reinforced over time
• Reaches all students, regardless of timetable or subject choices
• Connects learning to ambition, opportunity, and future success

This approach aligns directly with Gatsby Benchmark 4, which focuses on linking curriculum learning to careers. The aim is to help students understand why their learning matters, how it connects to the wider world, and where it can lead.

Careers education at King James I Academy

At King James I Academy, careers education is fully embedded across the curriculum. Students regularly encounter careers learning within everyday teaching through:

• Careers links included in teaching and learning slides
• Planned careers content within schemes of work
• Careers-related tasks and reflection built into homework
• Explicit teaching of transferable skills such as communication, resilience, teamwork, and independence

Across all subjects, students learn about:

• Careers linked to specific subjects
• Routes and pathways into those careers, including apprenticeships, college, T Levels, and university
• The qualifications, training, and skills needed to progress

Learning journeys and enrichment

Every department has a subject learning journey that sets out:

• Careers links connected to the subject
• Cross-curricular connections
• Enrichment opportunities that support progression and aspiration

These learning journeys help students and families understand how learning develops over time and how it links to future goals.

Accessing information

All subject learning journeys can be found within the curriculum information for each subject area, allowing parents and carers to:

• See how careers are embedded in learning
• Support informed discussions at home
• Understand how subjects contribute to long-term pathways

Through this structured and embedded approach, King James I Academy delivers careers education that is coherent, purposeful, and impactful, fully meeting the expectations of Gatsby Benchmark 4 and supporting students to make confident, informed choices about their futures.