Schools and education settings from across Wales have received a Careers Wales Quality Award (CWQA) at a national celebration event on 13 October 2026 in Cardiff.
The CWQA has been developed to support schools with embedding careers and work-related experiences (CWRE) across their curriculum in line with Curriculum for Wales.
Since launching as a pilot in 2023, the Careers Wales Quality Award has engaged schools and settings from across Wales, including primary schools, secondary schools, special schools, pupil referral units and other education settings.
The award provides a structured framework that helps schools strengthen and continually improve their careers and work-related learning provision. It has three stages, that focus each on Leadership (Bronze), Development (Silver) and Impact (Gold).
The following schools and settings received Careers Wales Quality Awards:
Bronze Award
- Bishopston Primary School
- Burry Port Community Primary School
- Corpus Christi Catholic High School
- Craigfelen Primary School
- Crickhowell High School
- Eastern High
- Gwauncelyn Primary School
- Gwenfro Community Primary School
- Llanrhidian Primary School
- Llantarnam Community Primary School
- Madras V.A. Primary School
- Millbank Primary School
- Mountain Ash Comprehensive School
- Nant-Y-Parc Primary School
- Saint Carlo Acutis Catholic School
- St. Joseph’s Catholic School and Sixth Form Centre
- Whitchurch High School
- Whitestone Primary School
- Woodlands Community Primary School
- Ysgol Friars
- Ysgol Gynradd Gymunedol Llanilar
- Ysgol Gynradd Llandybie
- Ysgol Hendrefelin Special School
- Ysgol Llandrillo yn Rhos
- Ysgol Sant Joseff – Catholic Primary School
- Birchgrove Comprehensive School
- Ysgol Dinas Brân
Silver Award
- Crownbridge School
- Dwr-y-Felin Comprehensive School
- Olchfa School
- Pembrokeshire Learning Centre
- Willows High School
- Ysgol Abererch
- Ysgol Bryn Elian
- Ysgol David Hughes
- Ysgol Garth Olwg
- Ysgol Glan-y-Môr School
- Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Bryn Tawe
- Ysgol John Bright
- Ysgol Maes Garmon
Gold Award
- Abertillery Learning Community
- Bryntirion Comprehensive School
- Canolfan Addysg y Bont
- Castell Alun High School
- Chepstow School
- High Street Primary School
- St Cyres School
- TEAM@Severn
- The Rofft School
- West Monmouth School
- Whitmore High School
- Ysgol Bro Dinefwr
- Ysgol Bryn Castell
- Ysgol Gyfun Penweddig
- Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Tan-y-Lan
- Ysgol Hafod Lon
- Ysgol Llanfyllin
- Ysgol Maes y Coed
- Ysgol Penrhyn Dewi VA
- Ysgol Pen-y-Bryn
- Ysgol Uwchradd Penarlâg / Hawarden High School
- Ysgol y Deri
Special Recognition Awards
- The Rofft Primary, Wrexham – Outstanding Careers Leadership
- Ysgol Y Deri, Vale of Glamorgan – Innovation in CWRE delivery
- TEAM@Severn, Cardiff – Transformational Impact in CWRE provision
Stacey Long, CWRE Lead at Ysgol y Deri, said: “It’s lovely to receive this recognition. It means a lot to have Hubbub and the careers work we do at Ysgol Y Deri recognised.
“Ultimately, we do it for our young people, so it’s especially nice for them to be recognised too. They’ve built Hubbub from the ground up, from decorating the space to making it their own. It’s their place and their workplace, and they should be really proud of what they’ve achieved.”
Sue Parker Thomas, deputy headteacher at The Rofft School in Wrexham, said: “It’s a huge privilege to have won this special recognition award. I want to give a big thank you to everyone at the school who helped along this journey.
“The children have been magnificent, they’ve been on a huge journey with us too. They have revelled in the authentic experiences that we’ve been able to give them.
“Our Gold Award also celebrates a whole-school journey that has enriched our practice, raised aspirations, provided authentic world of work experiences, and most importantly, widened our children’s horizons allowing them to make informed decisions to set and realise goals for their futures.”
Allyson Rogers, Learner Engagement Lead Officer at TEAM@Severn, said: “It’s fantastic to receive this recognition from Careers Wales for the wonderful work happening at TEAM@Severn. Our whole team is passionate about giving young people meaningful career experiences, helping them build confidence, develop new skills and see the opportunities available to them. We all care deeply about making a real difference to the young people we work with, so to have that commitment recognised means a great deal.”
Nikki Lawrence, chief executive at Careers Wales, said: “Congratulations to every school and setting who have received a Careers Wales Quality Award. Their commitment to strengthening careers and work-related experiences helps learners to better understand their options, explore opportunities and prepare for their futures.
“High-quality careers education is not something that sits alongside learning. It should be woven through the school experience, helping young people make connections between what they learn in the classroom and the opportunities available to them beyond education.
“The award provides schools with a clear and supportive framework for developing this work. It encourages reflection, continuous improvement and collaboration, while recognising the excellent practice already taking place in schools and settings across Wales.
“The award recipients should be incredibly proud of what they have achieved, and we look forward to seeing the positive impact of their work continue to grow in the years ahead.”
Following the success of the award pilot, 65 schools and settings across Wales have joined the new cohort to begin their own award journey. 23 of the original pilot cohort are now working towards the next level of the award.
To find out more, visit: Careers Wales Quality Award.