20 July
‘Exceptional’ Boveridge achieves quality mark
Delivering an ‘exceptional’ work experience offer for its students has helped earn Aurora Boveridge College a nationally-recognised award for excellence.
Awarding Boveridge its second Quality in Careers award, the Career Mark assessor said that in her experience, “the work experience offer at the college is unsurpassed”.
The Quality in Careers award is given to schools, colleges, and educational providers that demonstrate excellence in their careers education, information, advice, and guidance programmes.
To achieve the standard, the college had to submit an evidence portfolio, complete a detailed COMPASS self-assessment to measure the career guidance given against the eight Gatsby Benchmarks and host an on-site assessment by an assessor.
Following her visit to the college in Cranborne in June, the assessor concluded that staff at the school had developed a careers offer that was thoughtful and provided each learner with tailored support based on their individual needs.
During the onsite assessment day, the assessor met students to determine if they could demonstrate skills, knowledge and attitudes to be effective career planners. She found they could effectively talk about themselves and reflect on their interests, passions and strengths.
She said: “They also showed a sound appreciation of how their hobbies and interests help develop their sense of identity and they felt supported to gain work placement opportunities which align with their interests.
“Learners are developing self-awareness and confidence from their work encounters and this supports them with their transition into work.”
Boveridge’s Employability Co-ordinator Carolyn Carter said she and Employability Assistant Heidi Hudson were pleased to achieve the award and said it reflected the hard work being done by staff across the college to prepare students in the best way possible before they left.
She said: “We’re fortunate that the size of Boveridge means we’re able to get to know our students well. The consistent focus from teachers, support staff and residential staff across the college in embedding careers and employability skills into daily learning has made a big impact, allowing us to provide a bespoke service for our learners.
“It’s a whole team effort and it’s a whole team award.”
Principal, Lloyd Richards, said: “For an external assessor to describe our work experience provision as ‘unsurpassed’ is a remarkable endorsement of the opportunities we provide for our students. Preparing young people for successful futures is at the heart of what we do, and this award recognises the care, creativity and commitment that our staff bring to that mission every day.”
