Understanding career education in years 7 and 8

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What you will find in this handbook

This guide introduces career education at years 7 and 8: what is appropriate, why and how.

It is for:

school managers and teachers in years 7 and 8 who are responsible for leading the planning and implementation of career education in their school
all teachers in years 7 and 8 who want to understand how career education will help them meet the needs of their students in years 7 and 8 and prepare them for transition to secondary school.

The first part of this guide looks at why career education is relevant to children at this stage, what kinds of discussions and activities are appropriate at these year levels and how these prepare students for transition and lead on to career education in their later years of schooling.

The second part provides help on how to lead, design and deliver appropriate career education for students. Each of the sections in this part begins with key indicators of effective practice in career education at years 7 and 8, and continues with strategies, ideas, and examples to help you plan or enhance practice.

The final section is for new careers leaders; it offers ideas to get started.

This guide is a companion document to Career Education in Practice (Career Services, 2007), which is useful to all schools but weighted towards approaches and environments in secondary schools.