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, secondary schools must provide sufficient current evidence to demonstrate that they meet all the national quality assessment criteria in their overall CEIAG provision, addressing 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. A secondary school wishing to take part must progress through each stage to achieve the full award. The three-stage approach makes it accessible and flexible for schools 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.
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.
We are pleased to inform parents that Blackpool Aspire Academy is currently working towards achieving the award in the academic year 2025-2026.