Appendix 1: Career education benchmarks: Year 7 and 8 roadmap
Outcome dimension
S: Student career management competencies
Students need to be supported in developing the capability to self-manage their life and learning and to enable them to successfully transition to secondary school. A culturally responsive
effective career education programme focuses on developing career literacy and capabilities to ensure students are resilient, confident, connected and actively involved in learning.
This will enhance their ability to take responsibility and enable them to create the pathways they choose through which they might realise their potential and be effective contributors
to our economy and society.
S1 Self awareness
S2 Opportunity awareness
S3 Making decisions and planning
S4 Transition
S1.1 Self-knowledge
S2.1 Opportunity awareness
S4.1 Preparing for transition
S1.2 Developing capabilities
S2.2 Life, learning and work
S3.1 Making life, learning and
work decisions
S1.3 Changing and growing
S2.3 Accessing and using career
information to explore future opportunities
S4.2 Managing their transition
Input dimensions
L: Leadership
Effective leadership creates a positive climate and shows commitment to the development of student career management competencies, and this should be reflected in policy, planning
and professional learning and development. It is essential that there are clear strategies and plans and sufficient resourcing to enable a whole-school approach for successful transition
to secondary school.
At Year 7 and 8, career management competencies are already embedded in many learning areas but are not necessarily documented as such. The leadership dimension provides
a possible framework for senior managers and schools to incorporate career education into all school structures and highlight the links to student career management competencies.
L1 Strategic planning
L2 Team approach
L1.1 Key school documents
L2.1 Career education leader
L1.2 Whole-school approach
L2.2 Professional learning and development (PLD)
L1.3 Career education plan
Input dimensions
P: Programme delivery
High-quality career education that engages students is embedded within the school’s curriculum. It is provided through a school-wide integrated approach, where links are made between
the student career management competencies, other curriculum areas and the key competencies. Career education programme content is reviewed, evaluated and improved to ensure
the needs of all students are being met to support successful engagement in school and transition to the secondary school environment.
P1 School-wide approach
P2 Career education information systems,
programmes and services
P3 Resourcing, recording and access
to information
P4 School engagement
P1.1 School-wide integration of
career education
P2.1 Planning and review
P3.1 Management of resources
P4.1 Family and whānau
P2.2 Responses to current trends
and new opportunities
P3.2 Access to information
P4.2 School community engagement
P1.2 Raising student aspirations
P1.3 Māori enjoying success as Māori
P3.3 Personal profile – record of student
career management competencies
T: Transition to secondary school
Students are developing an awareness of the processes and changes involved in the transition to secondary schooling. Clear and open communication lines between all schools
with Year 8 students and secondary school must be established and enhanced. A planned, strategic co-constructed approach to the transition of Year 8 students to Year 9 will enhance
the student transition experience. Opportunities to develop the ability to adapt to change and manage transition is fundamental to student career management competencies and an
essential part of the Year 7 and 8 curriculum. The importance of including family and whānau in the transition process is highlighted by research that indicates that, without parental input
and support, students can be severely disadvantaged.
T1 Systems and procedures
T1.1 Year 8 career education learning activities
T1.2 Application and enrolment process
T1.3 Orientation programme
T1.4 Family and whānau involvement