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Statutory guidance

Careers and work-related experiences (CWRE) statutory guidance supports schools and settings to plan and implement CWRE.

CWRE is a cross-cutting theme through the Curriculum for Wales (CfW) for learners aged 3 to 16.

CWRE is essential to develop skills for work and life. It enables learners to understand the relationship between their learning and their future.

Statutory guidance includes:

  • Why CWRE is important in schools and settings
  • Contextualising skills through CWRE
  • Contextualising the Areas of Learning and Experience through CWRE
  • Designing CWRE in the curriculum
  • Reviewing CWRE in the curriculum
  • Designing and delivering CWRE provision
  • Evaluating CWRE provision

The guidance sets out who contributes to effective CWRE, including governors, management committees, local authorities, and Careers Wales. It identifies the role of senior leadership as important in ensuring the strategic development of CWRE.

Schools and settings have a responsibility to implement a whole-school approach to CWRE. The guidance highlights the role that Careers Leaders play in empowering ownership of, and commitment to, CWRE.

Guidance suggests that the following play a significant role in effective CWRE:

  • Professional learning to ensure practitioners have appropriate and relevant learning opportunities to help CWRE to become integrated in the curriculum
  • Work-related experiences that include a variety of opportunities that showcase the range of career opportunities within a local, national, and international context
  • Labour market information that will help learners to make informed, effective decisions regarding work, study, and training routes

The Curriculum for Wales and statutory Careers and Work-Related Education (CWRE) guidance applies to all learners aged 3 to 16 across every primary and secondary school year group. Find out more information about the CWRE statutory guidance on Hwb.

The Careers and World of Work Framework continues to apply for learners aged 16. - 19. The Careers and the World of Work (2008) Framework document is available on Hwb.