Primary Careers Education in England: Lessons from Start Small, Dream Big

This webinar will be delivered by Isabel Hutton, Senior Manager for Strategic Development at The Careers & Enterprise Company (CEC), and Beth Williams, Senior Manager at ImpactEd Evaluation. 

CEC is the national body for careers education in England, supporting schools and colleges to deliver modern, 21st century careers education. ImpactEd's evaluation team provides specialist evaluation support to the education and youth sector, helping organisations understand where impact is being felt most and ensuring resources are targeted effectively.  

What We'll Cover  

Isabel and Beth will explore the Start Small; Dream Big pilot, a 2.5-year career-related learning programme delivered in primary schools across England. The pilot aimed to increase primary-aged children's awareness of the world of work, raise aspirations, and challenge stereotypes, with a particular focus on reaching schools in disadvantaged areas.  

The session will examine how the pilot was designed and delivered, including the role of local Careers Hubs and Communities of Practice in building connections across and within regions. We'll discuss the delivery of employer encounters for pupils, and the Continuing Professional Development provided to teachers to build their knowledge and confidence in implementing whole-school career-related learning and embedding careers across the curriculum.  

We'll also share how the CEC and ImpactEd collaborated to develop a robust yet practical evaluation approach that could be delivered effectively in busy school settings. The session will explore how evaluation findings were used iteratively throughout the 2.5 years to strengthen and refine the programme in real-time.  

What You'll Learn  

After attending this webinar, you will:  

• Understand how career-related learning was successfully delivered in English primary schools, and the benefits of using locally-based delivery models.  

• Gain insights into collaborative evaluation design, how to create evaluations that support rather than burden programme delivery, and how to use emerging findings to shape ongoing implementation.  

• Hear key findings from the final evaluation report and how these continue to inform the CEC's work with primary schools across England. 

This session will be valuable for anyone interested in primary careers education, programme evaluation, or collaborative approaches to evidence-based improvement.  

CICA Competences - Career development theory, Communication and interpersonal skills.

Presenters

Isabel Hutton  

Isabel Hutton is a dedicated leader in education and social mobility, currently serving as Senior Manager for Strategic Development at The Careers & Enterprise Company – the national body for careers education in England. 

With over a decade of experience in education and strategic initiatives, Isabel is at the forefront of innovative programmes, including the Start Small; Dream Big primary pilot - a sector-wide coordinated effort to implement career-related learning at the primary level in England. 

Isabel's career is built on a commitment to equipping young people with the skills and opportunities needed for success. She has spearheaded multiple complex strategies to improve social mobility and has played a pivotal role in shaping evidence-based approaches to careers education. Her leadership has contributed significantly to fostering industry connections, breaking stereotypes, and encouraging diverse pathways. 

Isabel started out as a teacher, before taking up leadership roles in the education sector. 

Beth Williams  

Beth is a Senior Manager at ImpactEd Evaluation, where she specialises in evaluating programmes across the education sector. ImpactEd’s mission is to help education and purpose-driven organisations realise their potential. During her four years with the organisation, Beth has worked with a large number of partners, supporting them to understand what’s working, identify what isn’t, and make informed decisions to improve their impact. 

In her role, Beth leads a wide range of partnerships, including collaborations with the Department for Education, Multi-Academy Trusts, and national charities. 

Before joining ImpactEd, Beth worked for the widening-participation charity The Brilliant Club, supporting equitable access to highly selective universities. She also held roles in research and participation at the Children’s Commissioner for Wales. Beth holds an LLM in Human Rights from Birkbeck, University of London. 

A recording of the webinar will be made available to all registered attendees. If you’re unable to join the live session, you’ll receive access to the recording after the event for up to 14 days to watch at your convenience.