If you work in careers education or you are a sixth form student whose school takes careers guidance seriously, you may have heard of the Gatsby Benchmarks. This post explains what they are, why they matter and how Already Doing It helps schools evidence them.
The Gatsby Benchmarks are a framework of eight benchmarks for good career guidance in schools and colleges in England. They were developed by the Gatsby Charitable Foundation following a research project led by Sir John Holman and published in 2014. Since then they have been adopted as the national standard for careers education and are referenced in statutory guidance for schools.
Schools are expected to work towards meeting all eight benchmarks and to evidence their progress using a tool called Compass Plus. Ofsted inspections consider careers provision, and strong Gatsby Benchmark evidence can positively influence inspection outcomes.
Already Doing It automatically evidences three Gatsby Benchmarks through every session:
Benchmark 2 — Learning from career and labour market information
Students gain direct insight into what studying a specific subject at a specific university involves, including graduate outcomes and career prospects. This is exactly the kind of labour market and higher education information Benchmark 2 requires.
Benchmark 3 — Addressing the needs of each pupil
Every Already Doing It session is personalised — the student chooses their own mentor based on their specific subject and university interests. This 1:1 personalised interaction directly evidences Benchmark 3.
Benchmark 7 — Encounters with further and higher education
Sessions with current university students are direct encounters with higher education. Every session evidences Benchmark 7.
Benchmark 5 — Encounters with employers and employees (conditional)
Where students are matched with graduate mentors who are in employment, sessions additionally evidence Benchmark 5.
Following a pilot programme, Already Doing It provides schools with a full Impact Report formatted for Compass Plus. This report maps session data directly to Gatsby Benchmarks 2, 3 and 7 and provides the evidence schools need for their statutory reporting. The report requires zero administrative input from school staff.
For more information about bringing Already Doing It to your school, visit alreadydoingit.co.uk or email hello@alreadydoingit.co.uk.
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© 2026 Already Doing It Ltd. All rights reserved. The information on this site is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute professional career or admissions advice. Insider Sessions and Our Insider Guides reflect perspectives; always verify specific course details, entry requirements, and module lists with the official University Prospectus before applying.
