Teacher Encounters - Information for Educators
What is a Teacher Encounter?
A Teacher Encounter is a CPD opportunity for teachers to spend time with an employer, learning how their subject applies in the real world, and the skills their students need to thrive. They help schools fulfil their role in ensuring learners are not just academically ready, but pathway-aware and employment-ready to make aspirational and informed decisions, effective and sustained transitions and develop their career readiness.
Why do Teacher Encounters matter?
- They strengthen teaching by showing how subject knowledge applies in real workplaces.
- They can be easily embedded into existing education CPD frameworks, with minimal additional costs or workload.
- They make learning more meaningful by linking classroom content to real careers.
- They help meet Ofsted expectations and deliver Gatsby Benchmarks, specifically Benchmark 4.
- They boost teacher motivation and pride by connecting teaching to future impact.
Ready to get started?
Contact your local Careers Hub for support and guidance with Teacher Encounters.
Find your local Careers HubExplore the Careers Leader Guide
Speak with your Careers Leader to identify local employers that could accommodate you and / or your colleagues on a Teacher Encounter - the Careers Leader Guide provides inspiration.
DownloadOur evaluation of the Teacher Encounter programme
Read the report91%
of teachers reported improved confidence in having careers-related discussions with their learners.
78%
of teachers felt that their engagement with employers made them better able to deliver their subject.
83%
of employers reported that their engagement with Teacher Encounters helps them develop new talent pipelines.
92%
had increased their communication with students about their career and pathways.
- Enriches lessons with up-to-date industry insight.
- Supports ongoing CPD by embedding careers into staff development, in line with statutory guidance.
- Builds confidence to discuss a wider range of career pathways.
- Strengthens teachers as career influencers, beyond academic routes.
- Strengthens curriculum through real-world relevance.
- Supports teacher retention, motivation and wellbeing with meaningful CPD.
- Helps students access various forms of informed careers guidance and labour market information, securing positive student destinations.
- Builds whole-school confidence in careers conversations.
- Better understanding of careers and pathways.
- Higher aspiration, motivation and attainment - reducing risk of becoming NEET.
- More engaging, relevant classroom learning.
- Makes learning more relevant by showing how subject knowledge links to real careers - every subject, every year.
Don't just take our word for it
Colin Grand
Executive Principal, Aldridge Education MAT
My schools strive to provide our students with a competitive advantage that makes them stand out from the crowd. Teacher Encounters are vital for our staff to know the skills employers require beyond qualifications.
Sarah Parker
Principal, Trent View College
The world of work is ever changing, there are many jobs around today that were not even imaginable during my
teacher training. Now teachers can take tangible experiences back into the classroom.
MAT Careers Lead
Aldridge Education Trust
Our staff took this learning back to
the classrooms, shaping their
teaching to incorporate that knowledge.
In turn ensuring our learners are equipped with experience-based insights into the world of work, and the skills and strengths they need to thrive in their careers and in life after school.