Excellence in CEIAG Strategy, Leadership and Practice Across Post-16 Education
Evidencing exceptional practice for the Ofsted Toolkit using the Gatsby Benchmarks and matrix Standard
Fees
Member Rate £119.00 + VAT
Non Member Rate £219.00 + VAT
Overview
With the updated Gatsby Benchmarks and the 2026/27 Ofsted framework, effective Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) is more important than ever.
This practical workshop will explore how post-16 providers can develop an organisation-wide CEIAG strategy that strengthens learner progression, supports inclusion and employability, and demonstrates clear impact.
You’ll explore:
- Aligning CEIAG with the updated Gatsby Benchmarks and Ofsted expectations
- Embedding careers education across the learner journey and curriculum
- Strengthening leadership, governance and employer engagement
- Using learner, employer, destination and progression data to evaluate impact
- Building a robust evidence base for inspection and governance
- Demonstrating how CEIAG contributes to aspirations, achievement, employability and positive destinations
Delegates will leave with practical strategies to strengthen CEIAG, evidence its impact and demonstrate how careers provision supports successful learner progression.
What You Will Learn:
By attending this workshop, delegates will be able to:
- Develop a strategic CEIAG framework aligned with the updated Gatsby Benchmarks, the matrix Standard and the September 2026 Ofsted Further Education and Skills Operating Guidance Inspection Toolkit.
- Strengthen leadership, curriculum planning, employer engagement and learner support to embed CEIAG throughout the learner journey.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of CEIAG using learner, employer, destination and progression data to evidence impact and drive continuous improvement.
- Build a clear and robust evidence base that demonstrates strong or exceptional practice for governance and inspection.
- Identify practical actions that improve learner aspirations, employability, progression and positive destinations across all areas of post-16 provision.
Who Should Attend?
This workshop is designed for all FES and HEI providers (including ITPs, HEIs, employer providers and colleges), apprenticeships, adult learning, Academies and NHS Trusts and 16-19 provision and is suitable for the following roles:
- CEIAG senior leaders
- CEAIG advisers
- CEIAG managers and leads
- Curriculum managers
- Quality managers
- Learner support
- Recruitment, marketing and onboarding managers/leads
- Lead practitioners
- Lead curriculum staff
- Lead IQAs and senior assessors
Agenda
9.30am-9.40am
Welcome, introductions and webinar objectives
- Welcome and introductions
- Learning objectives and workshop overview and intended outcomes.
- Setting the context for CEIAG in 2026/27 and establishing delegates' key priorities and challenges.
9.40-10.30am
Developing an exceptional whole-organisation CEIAG strategy.
- Why CEIAG is a strategic priority for 2026/27
- leadership accountability and governance oversight
- aligning the updated Gatsby Benchmarks, matrix Standard and Ofsted Further Education and Skills Operating Guidance Inspection Toolkit
- defining roles and responsibilities across leadership, curriculum, careers and learner-support teams; creating an inclusive strategy across apprenticeships, adult learning, study programmes, T Levels, high needs, SEND and supported internships.
Workshop activity: delegates review their current strategic approach and identify strengths and strategic gaps.
Outcomes:
- Strategic leadership, governance and accountability
- The updated Gatsby Benchmarks in practice
- Aligning the Gatsby Benchmarks, the matrix Standard and the Ofsted Toolkit
- Developing a whole-organisation CEIAG strategy
- Roles and responsibilities across leadership, curriculum and support teams
- Creating an inclusive CEIAG offer for the FES sector:
10.30-11.15am
Section 2: Evidencing Impact, Quality and Continuous Improvement
Demonstrating exceptional CEIAG practice. Moving beyond activity to demonstrating impact.
- What high-quality CEIAG looks like through the Ofsted Toolkit, Gatsby Benchmarks and matrix Standard
- Evaluating whether careers activity actually improves learners' knowledge, aspirations, decision-making and progression; learner and employer voice; destination and progression data; achievement and retention information; analysing participation and impact for different learner groups
- Identifying gaps and inequalities; self-assessment and quality improvement planning.
Workshop activity: delegates use an evidence-and-impact exercise to distinguish between activity, evidence, impact and exceptional practice.
Outcomes:
- Evidencing impact through the Ofsted Toolkit
- Meeting the matrix Standard requirements
- Using learner, employer, destination and progression data
- Learner and employer voice
- Governance reporting and strategic oversight
- Self-assessment and quality improvement planning
- Top tips for inspection readiness and continuous improvement
11.15-11.30am
Comfort break
11.30am-12.15pm
The provider's voice and perspective, turning strategy into everyday practice
Building the evidence base and translating evaluation into action. What leaders and governors should know about CEIAG; effective governance reporting and challenge; triangulating learner, employer, curriculum and destination evidence; demonstrating impact rather than simply producing documentation; identifying strong and exceptional practice; preparing staff and leaders to articulate CEIAG impact; using SAR and QIP processes to drive improvement. Workshop activity: delegates complete a CEIAG readiness/self-evaluation exercise and identify their top three organisational improvement priorities.
Outcomes:
- Embedding CEIAG across the curriculum
- Employer engagement and meaningful encounters
- Personal development and career management skills
- Progress reviews and careers conversations
- Supporting progression to employment, apprenticeships, higher education and further learning
- Inclusive careers guidance for all learner groups
- Practical examples of embedding CEIAG into practice
12.15-12.25
|
Key messages, action planning and Q&A |
|
Top 5 CEIAG priorities for 2026/27; delegates identify immediate actions to take back to their organisation; questions and discussion; resources and next steps. |
12.25-12.30pm
Future AELP sessions and close, including feedback survey
Facilitator
Maureen Deary, FE Inspector
Maureen is a current practising further education inspector. She inspects and provides consultancy support across all FE and Skills and HEI provision and a wide range of sector areas sectors. She works with a range of colleges, prime and sub-contractor/partner training provider organisations and is a consultant and adviser in quality development support and improvement work and has supported organisations for over thirty years in the state, private, schools, further and higher education sectors. . She has lived and worked overseas in the education sector and has held representative sports coaching posts to national level. Maureen has worked for a number of awarding bodies approving new centres, developing qualifications, acting as a Chief and Centre Approvals Verifier/Moderator and Principal Examiner and QCF qualification designer, whilst living in the UK and in Hong Kong and Asia.
Guest Speaker
Ian Smith, FES Consultancy, Inspector, Former Ofsted Senior HMI and Consultant.
Ian Smith is a qualified teacher. He is a former Ofsted Senior Her Majesty’s Inspector and has 20 years recent experience in inspection, having worked as a senior manager for the Adult Learning Inspectorate and then moving to Ofsted. He gained extensive senior management experience as a senior leader in a general further education college and holds a degree level management qualification and a Postgraduate Award in Inspection and Evaluation. Ian has wide experience spanning over 35 years in all aspects of further education and skills and across provider types. Ian has managed a national quality improvement service and has experience of managing education programmes for young people, apprenticeships, community learning and adult skills provisions. He has carried out international work in quality improvement. Currently Ian is working as a consultant and advisor in the Further Education sector.
Guest Speaker
Sue Gomer, Quality Director, Logistica Training & Consultancy
Quality Director at Logistica Training & Consultancy, an experienced senior leader within adult education and apprenticeships. Responsible for Ofsted, Matrix and DFE quality compliance.
Guest Speaker
Roger Chapman, Head of Service Delivery and matrix Standards, The Growth Company
Guest Speaker
Naomi Lavendar, Quality Director, QA Training-Apprenticeships
Secure your place!
Fees
Member Rate £119.00 + VAT
Non Member Rate £219.00 + VAT
To pay via credit card, please contact our Accounts Team at:
Phone: 0117 947 2095
Email: [email protected]
If you are unable to pay via credit card, we will automatically raise an invoice and send it to you. Once your invoice has been paid, you will receive the confirmation email containing the Zoom joining link.
If you register but are unable to attend, we will send you a copy of the recording after the webinar has taken place.
Excellence in CEIAG Strategy, Leadership and Practice Across Post-16 Education
AELP Webinar
