We are Proud to Announce: Newhouse Academy Achieves the Quality in Careers Standard Full Award
21st May 2026
We are delighted to share some incredible news with our school community. Newhouse Academy has officially reached a major milestone by being awarded the Quality in Careers Standard full award.
This national accreditation is the highest benchmark for careers education, information, advice, and guidance (CEIAG). It confirms that our careers programme goes well beyond statutory requirements, marking us as a leader in preparing our students for life after secondary school. Following a rigorous external assessment in March 2026 and two years of hard work, we are proud to share that we have fully met all eight Gatsby Benchmarks.
‘Unambiguous Evidence’ of Our Commitment
The official Assessor’s Report from Career Connect praised our ‘comprehensive, fully planned and integrated’ programme. The assessors noted unambiguous evidence that we don’t just deliver careers advice; we constantly monitor and review our impact to ensure we are meeting the specific needs of every single student.
Key highlights from our report include:
- Expert Leadership: Our dedicated team, including Miss Jones (Co-ordinator), Miss Jamieson (Administrator), Mrs Gregory-Harris (Careers Lead) and Mrs Pugh (Positive Steps Careers Advisor) was praised for its ‘strong commitment’ and ‘excellent record-keeping.’
- Careers in the Classroom: We have worked hard to embed careers learning into core subjects. The report highlighted our STEM trips, real-world learning in Construction, and specific career mapping in English, Maths, and Science.
- Our People PSHE Curriculum: We deliver this through Personal Development lessons including 50-minute weekly sessions focused on career skills. The report detailed students benefit from work experience preparation lessons and the use of a reflective diary, to solidify their experience. All year groups use of Xello, exploring LMI and a focus on transferable skills during PSHE are an invaluable part of the programme.
- Support for Every Learner: The assessors noted that our ‘vulnerable learners are well supported.’ We prioritise 1:1 impartial guidance from Positive Steps for those who need it most, ensuring no student is left behind.
Feedback from Our Community
This assessment involved deep dives with our students, parents, and staff, and the feedback was heartening:
- Our Students told assessors they value the Xello platform for exploring their future and spoke highly of our ‘Future Foundations’ careers fair.
- Our Parents shared that our high-quality careers provision was a primary reason for choosing Newhouse Academy, noting that our guidance on academic and vocational pathways is ‘clear and accessible.’
- Our Leadership has committed to a five-year careers plan, ensuring every student from Year 7 through Year 11 receives dedicated time each week to focus on their future.
Our Strategic Partnerships
We are actively shaping regional educational strategy to ensure student needs remain a priority. This is through our collaborative work with Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and being part of the advisory panel for the MBacc (Manchester Baccalaureate)
These ties are further strengthened by a close partnership with UTC Bolton, which provides specialised technical insights and work placement support. We are embedding this with the launch of the Baker Award, a collaboration with the Baker Dearing Educational Trust designed to enhance Year 10 employability skills. By integrating these high-level networks with the expertise of our dedicated CEIAG team, we ensure that students, staff and families fully appreciate the value of technical qualifications. This in turn empowers our students to make truly informed choices for their future success.
A Note from Our Careers Team
“Achieving the Quality in Careers Standard full award is the result of a genuine team effort. From our teachers linking their subjects to the workplace, to our Year 10s showing the independence to find their own work experience placements, everyone has played a part. We are so proud to have our inclusive ethos and pastoral support recognised officially.”
Looking Ahead
While the report celebrated many of our strengths, including our ‘notable strength’ in work experience, we aren’t stopping here. We are already using this award as a foundation to expand our employer networks and prepare for new statutory requirements in Key Stage 3, ensuring we remain at the forefront of careers education.
We want to thank our students, staff, and partners for helping us make Newhouse Academy a place where every student can visualise, and reach, a bright future.
Work With Us
We are always looking to expand our network of professional partners. If you are a local business owner or representative and would like to inspire the next generation of talent, we would love to hear from you!
Would you like to collaborate with leaders in Careers Education? Please get in touch with Louise Jamieson, Careers Administrator, using the email below to discuss how we can work together.
