South Wolds school makes its Mark on careers education
South Wolds School, in Keyworth, received the prestigious Career Mark status on Tuesday 13th July for the excellent work it has done in implementing careers education programmes.
Chairman of Connexions Nottinghamshire, Tim Richmond, presented the award to the school at 8.30am on Tuesday.
South Wolds School is the 17th school in Nottinghamshire to receive this much-coveted award. The schools strengths were listed as: a well lead and co-ordinated careers programme, commitment to equality of opportunity, good communication with parents, good working relationship with the Connexions Personal Advisers and a wide range of resources and work-related activities.
(l-r above) Careers Co-ordinator Sue Walsh; Connexions Chairman, Tim Richmond; South Wolds Head Teacher, Simon Dennis; and pupil Olivia Russell receive the Career Mark Award.
Career Mark is a nationally recognised quality kitemark for careers education in schools and colleges. It is awarded only when a school or college has met a set of rigorous standards. The award was developed by the East Midlands Consortium as a quality standard for our schools. It is one of 2 main standards; the other is Investors in Careers that is owned by Devon and Cornwall.
Most of the uptake for the award is in the East Midlands but the Consortium do have a contract with ISCO, the independent schools careers service, and Career Mark is now being introduced into many of their schools, including many abroad.
To achieve a Career Mark Award, schools must meet the criteria within three standards:
- The Planning and development of Careers Education and Guidance is well managed.
- The curriculum includes a planned programme of Careers Education and Guidance that enables students to become more effective career planners.
- Students have the skills, knowledge and attitudes to be effective career planners.
Connexions Chairman, Tim Richmond, says: “I am delighted to present the Career Mark award to South Wolds school. Receiving the Career Mark is an excellent achievement. The award illustrates how effective the school’s careers guidance and education is in providing an excellent facility for researching career pathways and helping young people into work and learning.
“At Connexions, we believe that every young person should get the best possible start in life and getting good careers advice is essential if you are going to make the right choices.”
Members of the teaching staff, Connexions Personal Advisers and pupils were present at the Award ceremony.
