The Award: Standards, Process and Support

Here we explain a little more about how Career Mark works, the standards, the process and our support...

Career Mark standards

Career Mark is uniquely effective because it places the emphasis on what learners can do and understand as a result of your provision. 

Five standards make up the framework, four measuring how your provision is managed and delivered, and the fifth measuring learner outcomes.

What do the standards cover?

• Management – Standard M: measures the effectiveness of your systems for planning and managing CEIAG
  

• Guidance – Standard G: measures the effectiveness of your programme of advice, guidance and support
  

• Curriculum – Standard C: measures how effectively your curriculum supports the development of learners’ knowledge, skills, understanding and attitudes
  

• Information – Standard I: measures the accessibility, relevance and effectiveness of information, and the acquisition of skills to research and evaluate
  

• Learner Outcomes – Standard O evaluates learners’ knowledge, competence and attitudes
  

For each standard there are a number of 'assessment indicators', which clearly present that standard in its component parts, making it easy for you to identify what's needed for each standard.

The Career Mark Process

For the 4 'input' standards:

• Provide a written description of how you meet each assessment indicator and evidence to support your description 
  

• Present a portfolio for a ‘desktop’ assessment  
  

• ‘On site’ assessment of the Learner Outcomes standard is then arranged once the 'desktop assessment' passes the evidence for the 4 'input' standards

For the 'outcome standard':

This is assessed exclusively by an on-site discussion with students who are asked to describe their CEIAG experiences and how they have helped them with career planning.Assessment is undertaken by a qualified and trained assessor. 

A final report is written informing the organisation of the outcome of the assessment: 

• Succesful organisations receive the Career Mark plaque
   

• Unsuccesful organisations receive a list of actions to be udertaken in order for accreditation to be awarded

Career Mark is awarded for 3 years and during this period the organisation is entitled to display the prestigous Career Mark plaque and use the Career Mark logo on stationery, websites and publicity materials.

The process - at a glance:

Support

Organisations committing to Career Mark can access our comprehensive website which offers on-line support, exemplars and case studies. 

Telephone helpline, training workshops, development master classes and face to face support are all available at an additional cost.

The process from registration to completion varies from place to place and could typically be achieved within an academic year.  If an organisation allocates specific, dedicated resource to the process, then Career Mark could be achieved more quickly.

MORE...  

- More on the benefits of Career Mark 

- 'Celebrating Success' with Career Mark