Preston College successfully retains prestigious Matrix Accreditation!
Week commencing 3rd May 2022 saw Preston College subject to a formal review of the Matrix Accreditation, having last been inspected in June 2019.
The Matrix Standard is a Department of Education (DfE) standard, which ensures the quality of the delivery of information, advice and guidance and personal development. Matrix benchmarks against best practice, only offering accreditation to those who meet the full standard.
The rigorous and robust process took place at Preston College over a one week period, where over 45 meetings took place with a selection of college staff, students and external stakeholders, exploring the quality of Careers, Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) across the college.
Allowing the Assessor to build a college wide picture of how a range of roles support learners to achieve their individual goals, a number of strengths across the college were identified and appraised.
Highly complementary in his feedback, upon completion of the process, the Assessor surmised Preston College’s key strengths as:
- The college’s approach to partnership working, noting the strength of partnerships at both strategic and operational level
- The college’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic, lockdowns and the consequences, resulting in a more personalised approach to recruitment, especially for anxious learners
- Access to and the provision of continuous professional development (CPD), with the assessor noting how highly those who have recently joined the college speak of induction processes
- All parties (staff, learners, apprentices and employers) recognising that there is a strong commitment to listening to their views and suggestions, with effective processes in place for gathering feedback
- A comprehensive and wide-ranging pastoral support system, linked effectively to the college’s ethos of promoting social mobility
Debbie Ireland, Head of Curriculum for 14-19 said: “The Matrix assessment is a robust process, measured against national benchmarks. This positive outcome reflects the Preston College mission of helping to create the most employable learners, developing social mobility and supporting a thriving local economy.
High quality advice, guidance and personal development support is at the heart of this mission and we are delighted that the accreditation received in 2019 has been retained.”
