What is the Career Education Standard?
Career Education Standard Full Document
The Career Education Standard (CES) is part of Scotland’s Developing the Young Workforce strategy. It sets out a national framework for helping children and young people (ages 3–18) understand the world of work and develop skills for future careers.
Purpose
To improve the quality and consistency of career education across schoolsTo help learners develop skills, knowledge and aspirations for workTo enable young people to make informed decisions about learning pathways and careers
Key Features
Starts early (from age 3) and builds progressively through school
Places the learner at the centre of their career journey
Focuses on skills for learning, life and work
Promotes partnership working between schools, employers, parents and Skills Development Scotland
Links closely to Curriculum for Excellence and GIRFEC
Aims to support positive destinations and reduce youth unemployment
Core Entitlement for Learners
All children and young people should:
Learn about careers and the world of work through the curriculum
Develop transferable skills (e.g. communication, teamwork, problem solving)
Understand their strengths and achievements
Engage in profiling to support career planning
Access career information, advice and guidance (CIAG)
Experience partnerships with employers and workplaces
Understand equality, diversity, and workplace responsibilities
Using the CES for Self Evaluation
The self‑evaluation tool shows that CES is not just guidance, but a framework for reflective professional practice.
As you’ll see, these areas of reflection link to our Learning and Teaching, Curriculum design and commitment to equality, inclusion and fairness
Staff are encouraged to evaluate their practice across 10 expectation areas
Curriculum design & partnerships
How well do I provide a coherent programme of career education?
Do I work effectively with parents, employers and partners?
Learner voice & profiling
Are learners actively involved in discussing their skills and future pathways?
Do they understand and articulate their strengths and progress?
Connecting learning to work
Do I make clear links between curriculum learning and real jobs?
Inclusion & personalised support
Are career learning opportunities equitable and tailored to individual needs?
Challenging stereotypes
Do I promote equity and broaden career thinking?
Professional learning
Am I up to date with the labour market and opportunities?
Do I engage with research and national policy
Understanding work and responsibilities
Do learners understand employer and employee roles?
Digital tools
Do I use resources like My World of Work effectively?
Future readiness
Am I helping learners adapt to a changing world of work?
Employer engagement & pathways
Do learners access work experiences and pathways?
Summary of Pupil “I Can” Statements
These statements are designed to show progression from ages 3 – 18
BGE and Senior Phase below
BGE
I can…
Apply skills across learning and work contexts
Make informed subject and pathway choices
Manage and justify their profilesAccess advice and explore opportunities
Demonstrate employability behaviours
Consider enterprise and ethical issues
Senior Phase
I can…
Link skills to career pathways and qualifications
Make well-informed decisions about next steps
Apply skills in work placements
Create CVs and prepare for interviews
Understand recruitment processes
Demonstrate professional behaviours
Understand employment rights and responsibilities
Consider entrepreneurship/self-employment
Want To Learn More?
If you have any questions or feel you could offer some support in terms of class visits, work experience, mock interviews or Pathways sessions please get in touch with our DYW lead via the contact form