We are pleased to announce that we have successfully completed Stage 3 (Gold) of the Inspiring IAG Quality Award.
As part of our commitment to providing high-quality careers education, information, advice and guidance (CEIAG) we have been working towards the Inspiring IAG Gold Quality Award in Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance; an award that meets the Quality in Careers Standards. After a 2 year journey and a rigorous assessment day we are delighted to announce that we have achieved the Stage 3 (Gold) of this prestigious award and with it the eight Gatsby Benchmarks.
Our assessor was impressed by the way in which CEIAG is embedded in all aspects of academy life by all staff making us a model of excellent practice for other schools to follow.
We would like to thank all further and higher education providers, apprenticeship providers and the numerous employers who have supported our careers strategy over the last 2 years and we look forward to working with them in the future. Our thanks also go to our parents and carers who have supported us in our careers journey and to parents who took time from work to meet with the assessor on the day.
Stage One IAG Quality Award Certificate
Stage Two IAG Quality Award Certificate
Inspiring IAG is a careers education, information, advice and guidance (CEIAG) quality award, nationally validated by The Quality in Careers Standard (QiCS). It provides a good practice framework for organisations that work with young people, which includes schools, colleges, and other learning providers.
Organisations progress through each stage where it is validated and assessed. The process helps organisations to identify areas for development as well as recognising good practice in CEIAG.
Six key areas run through each stage of the award:
- Management and Leadership
- Design and Delivery of CEIAG
- Working with Partners
- Information and Communication
- Outcomes for Young People
- Involving Parents and Carers
Sandhill View Academy has successfully achieved the full Quality in Careers Standard Award with the Gatsby Benchmarks (July 2023)
IAG Stage 3 Code of Practice
Stage 3 Code of Practice
Sandhill View Academy has achieved the Inspiring IAG Stage 3 Award. The aim of the award is to:
- Ensure young people get the support they need to make well informed, realistic decisions about their future through careers education, information, advice and guidance.
- Have appropriate, up to date, accurate and impartial information and resources that all young people can access regardless of race, gender, religion, ability, disability, social background or sexual orientation.
- Ensure the organisational policies relating to careers education, information, advice and guidance (CEIAG) are up to date and regularly reviewed and reflect this code of practice.
- Empower young people by informing them of how they can access CEIAG to help them plan their future and make well informed, realistic decisions.
- Provide young people from year 8 onwards access to impartial professionally qualified careers guidance[1] and ensure formal regular assessment arrangements are carried out of the guidance practitioner, by appropriately qualified[2] senior staff to determine ongoing competency.
- Offer all young people access to impartial and independent[3] careers guidance[4], at a time and place that suits their needs.
- Ensure that all staff working with young people are offered and access ongoing training about qualifications/progression pathways and other relevant subjects and that there is a formal system in place to ensure the competency of all staff in delivering CEIAG.
- Work in partnership, where appropriate, with opportunity providers including employers, FE and training providers, and youth support services.
- Working with parents/carers to offer them information, advice and guidance to help them, help their son/daughter.
- Involve young people in the design, delivery and evaluation of CEIAG programmes.
- Promote equality of opportunity, celebrating diversity, challenging stereotypes and raising aspirations.
[1] “Professionally qualified” means an approved Career Development Institute (CDI) advice and guidance qualification at level 6 or above
[2] “Appropriately qualified” in this context means careers advice and guidance qualified
[3]“ Independent” means external to the organisation
[4] “Career guidance” as defined by the DfE. “Careers Inspiration in Schools” March 2015
The Quality in Careers Standard is the national quality award for careers education, information, advice and guidance (CEIAG) in schools, colleges and work-based learning. All state-funded secondary schools are “strongly recommended” by the DfE” to work towards, achieve, and maintain this Standard.
To gain the national Quality in Careers Standard, learning providers must provide sufficient current evidence to demonstrate that they meet all the national quality assessment criteria in their overall CEIAG provision.
To achieve this award we must provide sufficient evidence showing how our overall careers provision addresses the seven national assessment and accreditation criteria below:
- Providing effective leadership, management and promotion of CEIAG
- Ensuring appropriate initial staff training and continuing professional development (CPD) to secure the competence required of all staff in the learning provider’s CEIAG provision
- Providing a planned programme of careers, employability and enterprise education in the curriculum, together with careers information and careers advice and guidance.
- Securing independent and impartial careers advice and guidance for young people
- Working with employers and the full range of external partners including further education, work-based learning providers and higher education to enhance and extend CEIAG provision
- Involving and supporting families and carers in CEIAG provision
- Monitoring, reviewing, evaluating and continuously improving provision (including measuring the impact of CEIAG on learning outcomes and learner progression
Inspiring IAG is completed in three stages. An organisation wishing to take part must progress through each stage to achieve the full award. The three stage approach makes it accessible and flexible for organisations as they can complete each stage at a suitable pace, providing they complete within a year of the previous stage. The full award is The Quality in Careers Standard (formerly known as IIAG GOLD) and IIAG is licensed to deliver this national quality award. Once this is achieved it lasts for three years, providing Annual Reviews are in place and the institution continues to meet the requirements. All current awards remain valid and new certificates will be issued to those holding the award as we move from a validated model to a Licensing model.
The award includes a self-assessment, external assessments and validation. The process helps organisations to identify areas for development as well as recognising good practice in their CEIAG provision.
Six units make up the framework of the award, each underpinned by the principles of equality, diversity and raising aspirations. Management and Leadership; Design and Delivery of CEIAG; Working with Partners; Information and Communication; Outcomes for Young People; Involving Parents/Carers.
Inspiring IAG is licensed to deliver the national quality award which focuses on careers education, and/ or information, advice and guidance (CE/IAG) for Primary and secondary school students.
The Quality in Careers Standard is the national quality award for careers education, information, advice and guidance (CEIAG) in schools, colleges.
