Careers provision: audit

Evaluate your school’s careers provision, to track the progress of your careers programme against the Gatsby Benchmarks and identify strengths and areas for improvement.

Last reviewed on 2 February 2026
School types: AllSchool phases: Secondary, 16 PlusRef: 52926
Contents
  1. Download our template audit
  2. Assess how you're meeting the Gatsby Benchmarks
  3. Use the audit results to improve your careers programme
  4. Access further support

Download our template audit

KeyDoc: careers provision audit DOCX, 164.6 KB
Download

Gather your evidence

Before completing the audit, collect relevant documentation including:

  • Your careers guidance policy
  • Your provider access policy statement
  • Records of careers activities 
  • Pupil participation records
  • Destination data
  • Evidence of employer and provider encounters/experiences
  • Staff training records
  • Lesson plans
  • Feedback on your careers programme from staff, pupils and parents/carers

Use our tool to evaluate how well your school is meeting the Gatsby Benchmarks, in line with the DfE’s expectations, and identify next steps to improve your provision. 

The tool should be completed by your careers lead, who should seek input from other staff members where appropriate. 

Assess how you're meeting the Gatsby Benchmarks

Our audit tool uses the Gatsby Benchmarks, which set out what high-quality careers guidance looks like. While non-statutory, you're expected to be working towards meeting them, and Ofsted take this into account when assessing your careers programme.

The Gatsby