Middleton primary school achieves Greater Manchester first

Back row L-R: Jo Manfred, Rochdale Borough Council's inclusion team; Angela Davey, Inspiring IAG; Deborah Hunt, deputy head at St John Fisher; and Nicola Hadfield, headteacher at St John Fisher

St John Fisher RC Primary School in Middleton is the first Greater Manchester primary school to achieve the Quality in Careers Standard (known as Inspiring IAG across Greater Manchester).

The award recognises good quality careers education, information, advice and guidance to all students. St John Fisher was recognised for its work on career related learning, which is fully embedded across the whole school using different methods and styles to meet all pupils’ needs.

The school also runs its own ‘Enterprise Week’ where pupils get the chance to gain many work related skills. The school has also built up links with employers, including the NHS and HMRC, who visit to talk about careers.

Nicole Hadfield, headteacher at St John Fisher, said: “We are so proud to be the first primary school in Greater Manchester to get this award. We’re really passionate about career learning in school and I’m delighted this has come shining through. All staff want the very best futures for our pupils, like their parents or carers. I’m sure they’ll be delighted that we’re providing such top quality careers support.”

The school was also praised for its work with year six pupils as they transition to secondary school. They are helped to build knowledge, confidence and resilience with taster visits to their secondary schools and the head teacher and deputies keep in touch with pupils during the first term of year seven.

The Inspiring IAG inspector noted: “The whole ethos of the school is about development, achieving, caring for others, challenging, aspiring and taking responsibility to identify just a few. Pupils are challenged and learning is adapted so they learn how to deal with different situations. The behaviour on my visit was extremely positive and welcoming.”

Councillor Kieran Heakin, cabinet member for children’s services said: “This is a wonderful achievement from St John Fisher, we’re really proud to have the first primary school in all of Greater Manchester achieving this award. I hope more primary schools take up our offer of working towards this award as it’s such a fantastic scheme to support our young people.”