Worksop: Outwood Academy Portland celebrate following top award

Jacqui Jameson, centre, Director of Careers Inc. hands over Quality Award certificates to Janette Shea, head of the Post 16 Centre, and Adrian Conyers, assistant Principal at Portland, also pictured are careers adviser Laura Moody and Gareth Turner, lead careers teacher, also from Portland.

The Post 16 Centre were recently accredited with the prestigious award which recognises the education centre has met the validation criteria of the national Quality in Careers Standard.

Portland’s submission was of such an excellent standard that they have been recommended for the Gold Award which is only given for consistent and embedded evidence of outstanding provision.

Principal at Outwood Academy Portland, Dr Smith, said: “This is highly unusual as most schools that go on to get the Gold Award have normally held the standard award for three years and then go on to gain Gold Status.”

There are over 1100 schools, colleges and Work Based Learning (WBL) providers in England who either hold or are working towards a CEIAG Quality Award.

The awarding body, Prospects, only have six organisations who hold Gold - four schools and two colleges - and only one of them was recommended for Gold on their first submission.

Dr Smith added: “I am delighted with the commitment and effort of all staff, who have worked with our partners Careers Inc to achieve these awards.”

“Our work with Careers Inc ensures that the students of Worksop receive high quality, impartial careers information, advice and guidance to help prepare them for the future.”

A spokesman for Careers England said: “We encourage schools, colleges and WBL providers to start the journey of improvement today and begin working towards a CEIAG Quality Award.”

Visit www.careersengland.org.uk for the full list of awards.