National award for GC careers guidance
Gloucestershire College has become the first UK college to fully achieve the national Quality in Careers Standard on its first assessment with Complete Careers (Career Mark) since the changes in careers statutory guidance in 2018. The national award recognises excellence in careers education, information, advice and guidance (CEIAG) for young people.
It is “strongly recommended” by the Department for Education to work towards, achieve and maintain this national standard, which is fully aligned with the Gatsby Benchmarks for good career guidance and complies with the DfE’s Statutory Guidance.
The College underwent a lengthy external assessment by awarding body Complete Careers (Career Mark), which included a thorough portfolio assessment, interviews and meetings with students and apprentices on a variety of courses and levels and staff such as vice principals, heads of school and student mentors.
Careers Leader, Samantha Trickey, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have achieved national recognition of our CEIAG. Careers education, employability and skills development underpin everything we do at Gloucestershire College. It’s a collaborative effort by all our staff to ensure students are ready for their next steps and we are extremely proud of this recognition.”
Emma Haines, Head of Student Support said: “We embed careers throughout our curriculum and support structures for students. Our staff are relentlessly passionate about enabling students to maximise their career potential and I am thrilled we have been recognised in this way and that student feedback underpinned this achievement.”
For each of the components in the Complete Careers approach to assessing the Quality in Careers Standard (Management, Career Learning, Information, Advice, Guidance and Support), GC fully met the national standard and achieved 100% in each of the relevant Gatsby benchmark indicators. These include assessing the needs of pupils, encounters with employers and employees, using labour market information, and access to personal guidance.
The Quality in Careers assessment report said: “The careers education, information, advice and guidance at Gloucestershire College is impressive both in its strategy and in its implementation. With a very strong leadership team that is totally committed to high quality CEIAG, providing strategic and supportive direction, it is clear to see how careers work is at the heart of the College’s vision and practice.
“Gloucestershire College is a large further education college across three sites yet each individual learner is provided with holistic careers education and personal careers guidance and support to maximise their potential and progress through their career: everyone matters.”
GC has many staff dedicated to delivering its careers information, advice and guidance, including student mentors, training coordinators, teaching staff, heads of school, careers and higher education advisers, student advisers and call assistants.
The College ensures a range of opportunities for parents to discuss their child’s opportunities and options, and analysis of student needs is particularly strong, with a tracking and monitoring system implemented to provide every learner with the support they require.
For more information on the CEIAG on offer at GC visit www.gloscol.ac.uk/careers