News

Careers Wales Quality Award

Following a successful pilot, Careers Wales are delighted to launch the Careers Wales Quality Award (CWQA). The CWQA aligns with the Curriculum for Wales, supporting schools and settings with learners aged 3 to 16 to create high quality careers and work-related experiences (CWRE).

The award is structured across three stages – Bronze, Silver and Gold – guiding schools from setting a clear strategic approach to careers education, through to embedding careers and work-related experiences in the curriculum and then demonstrating the difference this makes for learners.

Since launching in September 2023, 66 schools and settings from across Wales have taken part in the award pilot, including primary, secondary, special schools, pupil referral units and EOTAS provisions.

Pilot schools are already seeing benefits, with feedback highlighting:
– Stronger leadership and planning for CWRE
– Increased learner voice
– Improved engagement with parents, employers and communities
– Greater teacher confidence in delivering careers related learning.

These early results show how the award can support schools to build meaningful, high quality careers and work related experiences for learners aged 3 to 16 aligned with the Curriculum for Wales.

As the pilot phase draws to a close, registration has now opened for new schools to take part in the Careers Wales Quality Award from September 2026.

Each participating school works closely with a CWRE Curriculum Coordinator from Careers Wales who offers monthly consultancy meetings together with access to appropriate professional learning and networking opportunities for teachers and governors.

Mark Owen, Head of Stakeholder Services at Careers Wales, said:
High-quality careers and work-related experiences play an essential role in helping learners understand their options and develop the confidence and skills they need for the future. The quality award gives schools a clear, supportive framework to embed this work across their curriculum, in a way that aligns with the Curriculum for Wales. We’re really encouraged by the positive impact we’re already seeing and look forward to welcoming more schools to take part as the award opens more widely later this year.

To register your interest in starting the award in September fill out this form, or visit the Careers Wales website for more information.