Primary Careers Award
Our Primary Careers Award, Nationally Endorsed by the Quality in Careers Consortium, is dedicated to supporting, developing and accrediting primary schools to deliver a high quality Careers programme to their pupils.
Why the Careers Seekers Direct Primary Careers Award?
Careers, Employability and Enterprise (CEE) education provides pupils with a structured and progressive programme designed to enhance their understanding of career pathways and the wider world of work. It develops their career-management capabilities and core employability skills, while promoting a sophisticated awareness of contemporary workplace expectations. Through this provision, pupils are supported to cultivate high aspirations and the confidence to achieve sustained personal and professional success.
Career Seekers Direct's Primary Careers Award, Nationally Endorsed by the Quality in Careers Consortium, is widely recognised as a benchmark of excellence in Careers Education, signifying a rigorous and high-quality approach to delivering effective careers provision.
The Award supports the development of your curriculum by offering a clear framework and guidance to embed best practice in careers education. It provides a structured approach for integrating careers learning across the curriculum, along with access to high-quality training resources. The process includes independent, impartial and expert evaluation of your careers provision, culminating in the award of a certificate that recognises and celebrates your good practice.
Primary Careers Award — Process & Teacher Guide
The Primary Careers Award supports schools in delivering meaningful, high‑quality careers learning. Our framework outlines each stage of the award, the evidence schools can provide, and how impact is demonstrated throughout the process.
To help teachers feel confident and supported, we’ve created a practical Teacher Guide — a downloadable resource designed to make planning, delivering, and evidencing careers provision simple and achievable.
Schools can access:
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Primary Careers Award Process (Word Doc)
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Teacher Guide for Teachers (PDF)
Both documents are available below.
Steps to Achieving Our Primary Careers Award
Step One: Registration & Initial Enrolment
Register for the award and pay the registration fee.
Step Two: Induction Meeting with Career Seekers Direct
You’ll be paired with a qualified assessor who will meet with your Careers Leader (in person or online) to walk through the award criteria.
Your school will receive a Certificate of Commitment to mark the start of your award journey.
Step Three: Submit Your Evidence
Upload your evidence using the digital record provided by Career Seekers Direct. You’ll be asked to demonstrate impact across five key elements*:
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Element 1: A whole‑school careers programme
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Element 2: Careers woven into the curriculum, including employability and life skills
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Element 3: Employer encounters and awareness of labour market trends
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Element 4: Preparing pupils for transitions to Secondary, Further and Higher Education
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Element 5: Leadership, management, quality assurance and measuring impact
Framework shown below*
Step Four: Request Assessment
When you’re ready, contact your assessor. They’ll guide you through paying the assessment fee and begin reviewing your portfolio. This includes:
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Reviewing your online evidence
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A discussion with your Careers Leader
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Verbal feedback on next steps
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A written report outlining strengths, areas for development and progress
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A recommendation on your award status
Step Five: Assessment Outcomes & Feedback Reporting
Within 10 working days, you’ll receive your report confirming one of three levels:
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Level 1: Achieving the Award
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Level 2: Making Good Progress
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Level 3: Not Yet Achieving the Award
The Award is granted when Level 1 is achieved across all five elements. If any elements are still in progress, you’ll receive clear written guidance on how to complete them.
Step Six: Award Certification & Recognition
Schools achieving the Award receive an official certificate and, with permission, will be listed on the Career Seekers Direct website and featured in our communications.
Step Seven: Post-Assessment Options & Re-Assessment Process
If assessed but did not fully meet the assessment criteria, we will contact you to see if you wish to continue with the award in due course. If yes, the cost of re-assessment will depend on the amount of re-assessment required. Your school can purchase additional support from a Career Seekers Direct adviser if you wish to.
If you are interested in the Award, please email supportingyou@careerseekersdirect.co.uk or call 0345 5480080 for more information.
Career Seekers Direct's Primary Framework
Five elements make up our clear, integrated framework in relation to step 3*
1. Comprehensive
The Careers programme is comprehensive covering the whole school.
2. Integration
Careers within the curriculum, including employability and life skills.
3. Employer Encounters
Experiences with employers and awareness of labour market trends.
4. Preparing for Transitions
Supporting pupils as they move to Secondary, Further and Higher Education.
5. Leadership & Impact
Leadership, management, quality assurance and measuring outcomes.