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Careers and work-related experiences toolkit

Careers and work-related experiences (CWRE) is a cross-cutting theme in the Curriculum for Wales for 3 to 16 year-olds. Schools and settings are expected to follow the Statutory Guidance for CWRE in developing their curriculum.

What is the CWRE toolkit?

The CWRE toolkit is a resource to support all teachers, senior leadership teams and those supporting young people, to realise and embed CWRE in their schools and settings. It was developed by the Career Development Institute (CDI) and Careers Wales, working with Welsh Government and a strategic steering group of key stakeholders.

The resource is made up of a toolkit and a toolbox which provide information and resources that will support the development, implementation, and evaluation of careers education provision.

CWRE toolkit

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The toolkit contains sections called:

  • Realising CWRE in the Curriculum for Wales
  • Quality in CWRE
  • Managing self-assessment of CWRE

CWRE toolbox

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Using the information and templates in the toolbox will support you to:

  • Build a vision for CWRE in your school or setting
  • Understand teachers’ roles in CWRE and the role of the Careers Leader
  • Build a network with employers and stakeholders
  • Create a culture of self-improvement and assessment
  • Access useful resources

Frequently asked questions

What is the CWRE toolkit?

The CWRE toolkit is a digital resource that provides useful information and practical resources to support your school or setting to successfully realise CWRE as a cross-cutting theme. It helps you to provide learners with meaningful careers education throughout their education.

Who is the CWRE toolkit for?

Statutory Guidance states that all teachers, headteachers and governing bodies must pay due regard to CWRE when planning, designing, and implementing the curriculum. The CWRE toolkit will be meaningful to all teachers, and anyone supporting young people in an educational context. However, Careers Leaders and headteachers may be particularly interested in the information, framework and resources offered.

How can schools use the CWRE toolkit?

The toolkit offers a non-prescriptive framework that provides a process for developing the CWRE approach in your school or setting. It offers advice, inspiration, and resources. It should be viewed as a tool that can provide you with useful and practical support when identifying the vision and strategy for CWRE, and in the curriculum design and planning stage. The toolkit also contains practical advice on identifying and evaluating the impact of your school’s CWRE curriculum.

Do schools have to use the toolkit?

The CWRE toolkit is an optional resource that has been designed to support the design and development of CWRE as a cross-cutting theme.  It is hoped that by using this, your school or setting will be able to successfully realise CWRE in your curriculum and provide learners with meaningful careers education.