26 October 2025
CEC publishes final evaluation report for primary careers pilot
The Careers & Enterprise Company published its final evaluation report into the two-and-a-half-year career-related learning pilot in primary schools. The programme, ‘Start Small: Dream Big’ aimed to raise awareness among primary-aged pupils of the world of work, lifting their aspirations and challenging stereotypes.
Three waves of work from 2023 to 2025 involved linking primary schools to Career Hubs, providing professional development to a nominated Lead Teacher in each school and delivering employer encounters.
In total, 1,394 primary schools were recruited, linked to 20 Careers Hubs. These schools were chosen for their higher levels of disadvantage. Over a thousand employers engaged and delivered over two thousand encounters. 93% of these employers committed to continue working with the school after the pilot ended.
Positive results of the pilot included an 8% increase in pupils’ understanding of the diversity of work, 40% of parents having more conversations with their child and 67% of teachers reporting higher pupil confidence.
Read the full Start Small: Dream Big evaluation report.
Three waves of work from 2023 to 2025 involved linking primary schools to Career Hubs, providing professional development to a nominated Lead Teacher in each school and delivering employer encounters.
In total, 1,394 primary schools were recruited, linked to 20 Careers Hubs. These schools were chosen for their higher levels of disadvantage. Over a thousand employers engaged and delivered over two thousand encounters. 93% of these employers committed to continue working with the school after the pilot ended.
Positive results of the pilot included an 8% increase in pupils’ understanding of the diversity of work, 40% of parents having more conversations with their child and 67% of teachers reporting higher pupil confidence.
Read the full Start Small: Dream Big evaluation report.
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