Park High School Receives Challenge Partners Award for Careers Education

Park High School has been honored with an award for the outstanding quality of its Careers Education from Challenge Partners, a prominent national charity dedicated to supporting school improvement and sharing best practices. Following a two-day assessment earlier this month, assessors highlighted various aspects of school life, with Careers Education highlighted as an area of excellence. This recognition comes in addition to a similar accolade for Special Education Needs, which the school received last year, also as an area of excellence.

The Challenge Partner assessors, led by a team of experienced senior leaders from other schools, the Challenge Partner assessors commended Park High for its high-quality provision of Careers education, which supports students throughout their academic journey. During their visit, they observed lessons and tutor sessions, held meetings with both staff and students, and participated in school assemblies. Specifically focusing on Careers Education, they noted our school's proactive approach in encouraging students from an early age to explore various career paths aligned with their personal interests. Our students are offered a diverse range of activities, including an annual Careers Fair, mock interviews, work experience opportunities, guidance for further education at colleges and universities, as well as advice on apprenticeships. Notably, students recently engaged in an online seminar led by an Electrical Engineer, one of several such sessions conducted this term, providing insights into training, job requirements, and day-to-day experiences in the field.

In their assessment, Challenge Partners commented “There is a comprehensive careers programme. The school has achieved the Quality in Careers Standard Award, the national quality award for careers education, information, advice and guidance (CEIAG) in secondary schools, colleges and work-based learning and is a beacon of excellence which it positively shares with others”. The award of an area of excellence is the main way Challenge Partners identifies and shares leading practice with the rest of the Network of Excellence so that many more children and young people can benefit.

Mrs. O’Dwyer, the Headteacher, expressed immense pride in the school's recognition by Challenge Partners, stating, "Ensuring that our students are ready for the next stage of their career, whatever they may do, is central to our ethos. Careers is truly an area of excellence at Park High and my thanks go to our talented staff who lead in this area and who provide our students with such meaningful and purposeful experiences”.

The acknowledgement of Careers Education as an area of excellence underscores Park High's commitment to nurturing students' futures and empowering them for success beyond the classroom.

You can read the full Challenge Partners Quality Assurance Review here.