The Highcrest Academy

Quality in Careers (QIC) Accreditation

Highcrest Registers for Quality in Careers (QIC) Accreditation

As parents, you need to be assured that we provide top quality careers support. You will already know about our careers programme: many parents already make use of the information on the school website, the free careers guidance software we provide for students and the one -to one interviews that are delivered by specially trained external careers advisers with a degree level qualification in Careers Guidance.

You will have read reports of the exciting events that Highcrest organises for students in our weekly "Highcrest Highlights" Newsletter. and probably also in the local newspapers and on our social media channels.

We are always seeking to improve what we offer, to provide new ways of helping your children to develop the skills that businesses tell us they value and to prepare them for the next stage of their life after they leave Highcrest. For this reason, we have decided to work towards the Quality in Careers Standard. There are currently no schools in High Wycombe and only a small number across Buckinghamshire that currently have this award.

If a school holds the nationally recognised Quality in Careers Standard, parents can be assured that it provides its students with careers support of the best quality.

To achieve this national quality award, schools submit their careers education and guidance programme for rigorous external assessment and accreditation.

External assessors undertake a review against national standards, fully incorporating the Gatsby Benchmarks for “Good Careers Guidance” and requiring additional evidence of impact on students’ career-related learning from the careers programme.

You can read about the Gatsby Benchmarks here: https://www.gatsby.org.uk/education/focus-areas/good-career-guidance

You can read more about the Quality in Careers Award here: https://www.qualityincareers.org.uk

Quality in Careers assessments are external assessments, not internal self-assessments by the schools. Expert assessors make on-site visits, meet students and require school leaders and staff to demonstrate that their careers programme will:

  • educate, prepare and inspire young people as they make decisions about their future learning and work choices
  • improve their motivation and aspiration
  • develop their career learning skills, knowledge and attributes, and increase their understanding of work-based issues such as prejudice, stereotyping, discrimination and equal opportunities.

Parents can be confident that the careers support provided by schools or colleges achieving the national Standard will help every student to gain the knowledge, skills and confidence to take control of their futures.

We will update you regularly on the progress we are making towards this accreditation.