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Advancing Careers Education for Learners with SEND Through the Gatsby Benchmarks
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Authors
Editors
Date
2026
Educational Level
ISCED Level 4 Post-secondary Non-tertiary Education
Curriculum Area
Geographical Setting
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Abstract
Responding to the need to strengthen careers education for learners with SEND, Oldham College led a national CPD initiative through ETF's SEND Centres of Excellence focused on embedding the Gatsby Benchmarks. Challenges included limited sector confidence in adapting careers education for SEND learners and the absence of a coordinated professional learning platform. Actions included delivery of expert-led webinars (77 national participants), modelling practical implementation, facilitating collaborative breakout sessions, and establishing an ongoing Community of Practice for trial, reflection, and shared learning. Evidence of impact includes high practitioner engagement, representation from 14 providers in the CoP, strengthened professional networks, increased confidence among careers practitioners to embed SEND-specific Gatsby adaptations, and the development of a sustained learning community to support national improvement in inclusive careers education practice.
Description
Keywords (free text)
further education, 16-19 education, inclusion, special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), careers education, community of practice