Careers Wales Quality Award Pilot

Stage 1 – Leadership

This stage is about formulating and maintaining the commitment to lead the development of CWRE.

The criteria are:

• The school has made a formal commitment to gaining stage 1 of the Careers Wales Quality Award (CWQA) and has created an action plan / checklist for achieving it
• The school has a vision and strategy for CWRE set out in a specific CWRE policy
• The school has a plan for the regular monitoring, review and evaluation of CWRE to support continuous development and the contribution of CWRE to overall school improvement
• The school has identified the roles needed to facilitate effective development of CWRE
• The school is committed to allocating sufficient resources for CWRE and ensuring that they are effectively deployed

Stage 2 – Development

This stage is about realising CWRE in the curriculum through professional learning, stakeholder engagement and effective teaching and learning.

The criteria are:

• The school has made a formal commitment to gaining stage 2 of the CWQA and has created an action plan/checklist for achieving it
• The school has completed a comprehensive audit of their current CWRE provision taking account of Welsh Government curriculum guidance and the criteria of this award
• The staff leading on CWRE maintain an annual commitment to their own professional learning, and the school identifies staff learning needs in CWRE and aims to meet them appropriately and within a reasonable period
• Learners are actively involved in the design, implementation and evaluation of CWRE
• Parents and carers are recognised as partners in the career development of learners and are well-supported by the school
• The school maintains a network of business, community contacts and alumni, where appropriate, to enhance work-related experience opportunities for learners
• The school collaborates with other schools, Further Education colleges, Higher Education institutions and Work Based Learning organisations, where appropriate, to provide continuity of CWRE provision and to collectively raise standards in CWRE
• The school selects information and resources that contribute to effective learning and teaching and makes effective use of Careers Wales resources and services
• The school’s CWRE provision is:
  • Planned with specific reference to Welsh Government curriculum guidance
  • Broad and balanced, provides age and developmentally appropriate learning opportunities and experiences for all learners, uses a range of career learning approaches, and is integrated within the curriculum

Stage 3 – Impact

This stage is about demonstrating impact in CWRE.

The criteria are:

• The school has made a formal commitment to gaining stage 3 of the CWQA and has created an action plan / checklist for achieving it
• The school ensures that learners are well prepared for key CWRE learning opportunities to maximise impact
• The school’s CWRE provision makes a discernible difference to learners’ career understanding and skills and their learning across the curriculum
• The school’s CWRE provision addresses the needs of all learners and groups of learners, especially those experiencing stereotyping, disadvantage and discrimination
• The school’s CWRE provision equips learners to make informed decisions and successful transitions into personally valued destinations. (Secondary only)