Westholme School has been selected as a finalist for the Independent Schools of the Year Award for their careers programme.
The award will be presented to the school which most impresses the judges with the way in which it helps its students with careers provision, advice and support on choosing a career and assists them with finding suitable work experience and preparing for future employment.
Westholme, in Blackburn, Lancashire, is well known for its focus on the acquisition of 21st century essential skills that prepares all students with employability and work-ready skills. Their enviable student careers programme has seen their largest ever cohort of students applying for level 6 degree apprenticeships, reflecting the school’s ongoing commitment to educating students about alternative routes into the workplace.
Dr Richard Robson, Principal, said: “We are immensely proud to have our most successful year for Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship. With 100% success rate this year, this reflects our ongoing commitment to holistic education and providing alternative routes into higher education for our incredible students.”
Students have successfully secured prestigious degree level apprenticeships with a range of multi-national companies including BBC, PwC, ARUP, Jaguar Land Rover and KPMG in disciplines such as accounting, product and marketing, engineering and technology. The Westholme INSPIRED Sixth Form students were highly sought after, some receiving as many as seven offers to select from.
These apprenticeship offers are in addition to Westholme’s academic success this year with nearly a quarter of students this year’s achieving at least 2 A*/A grades and above.
The school engages with students from an early age to spark an interest in apprenticeships, offers 1:1 tailored support throughout the school, mock interviews, workplace visits, assemblies, and presentations from recent alumni apprentices, ASK and local universities.
Westholme has also significantly developed its alumni network, with a dedicated online platform and increased engagement to create further opportunities for their students.
Dr Robson added: “We were very honoured to be selected as finalists from all the independent schools in the UK and invited to the award ceremony to be recognised for the innovation and pioneering educational approach that our staff deliver for our wonderful students at Westholme.”
The winners of each category, plus the overall Independent School of the Year, will be announced at the awards ceremony being held on Tuesday 10 October in London.