Paul has been busy with Quality in Careers work throughout the first half of this year, including chairing four relicensing panels for Awarding Bodies (CSW Group, Prospects, C & K Careers and Positive Steps – Inspiring IAG). Since April the DfE has awarded the Quality in Careers Consortium to support the Consortium’s work – which is excellent news.

http://www.qualityincareers.org.uk/news/

In April Paul was appointed as the Company Secretary for Axia Digital (Ireland) Ltd – a subsidiary of the company Paul already acts as Company Secretary for (Citizen Connect Ltd trading as Axia Digital).

https://www.axiadigital.uk/2019/05/21/axia-digital-ireland-launched/

In August 2001 Paul was appointed to the Governing Body of the Dales School. Since that time he has served on the Governing Body up to this month, including two periods as Chair of Governors. Yesterday he chaired his final meeting of the Governors, handing over the chair to a fine Parent Governor. So Paul has now retired from the Governing Body after his 18 years of service at this “most special of Special Schools”.

Paul continues to serve as a Licensed Lay Minister (Reader) in the Church of England. Serving in the Benefice of the Lower Swale which has been in ‘vacancy’ without an ordained priest since April last year. So Paul has been most busy leading Morning Worship Services most Sundays and monthly Evensongs.

Paul has been busy this year again with Quality in Careers work, leading the full alignment of the national assessment criteria with the Gatsby Benchmarks. On 13.11.18 he spoke about this ground-breaking development at the Westminster Briefing/Careers England CEG Summit in London (see the photo below).

Paul’s also been actively supporting Axia Digital as its Company Secretary & Non-Executive Director.

Commitments at the Dales School as Chairman of Governors have continued, and Paul has had increased numbers of services to lead as Licensed Lay Minister in the Benefice of the Lower Swale as the number of Ministers in the team has dropped from 5 to 1 in the past 18 months.

Presenting on Quality in Careers fully aligned with Gatsby Benchmarks

It’s been a while since we updated our news: so this is a more detailed update than usual.

2017 saw Quality in Careers become the single national CEIAG Quality Award with the previous 12 award providers becoming Licensed Awarding Bodies for Quality in Careers – a transition which took much of Paul’s time.

You can see the latest on Quality in Careers here: www.qualityincareers.org.uk

Paul continued his occasional national public speaking on Quality in Careers throughout 2017; his final 2 events that year being with Westminster Briefing and with Understanding Modern Gov.

2018 began with Paul heavily involved in proposals to realign the national assessment and accreditation criteria for Quality in Careers even more closely with the Gatsby Benchmarks for “Good Career Guidance” – as we write this is on-going with major consultations at present with Licensed Awarding Bodies, the Careers & Enterprise Company, and the Gatsby Foundation.

Paul spoke on Quality in Careers at the NAHT annual conference for Special School leaders in Stoke on Trent at the beginning of March – where his added familiarisation with SEND issues from his Chairmanship of the Dales School Governing Body was crucial. During 2018, Paul will be involved in a number of Relicensing Panels for current Awarding Bodies for Quality in Careers, and some further speaking engagements.

In addition to continuing to be Company Secretary for Axia Digital, Paul has also been appointed as a non-executive director on their Board.

Paul continues in his role as Chairman of the Governing Body for the Dales School again this year; and has increased his Lay Ministerial commitment to the Benefice of the Lower Swale in the light of the Ministerial team reducing in number.

Alison no longer undertakes matrix assessment work; her contributions to Boundary Partnership are now limited to admin matters – after her long professional career in the field, she has ‘retired’ from onsite work. Alison is now concentrating on managing her MS and keeping active mentally as well as physically where she can. This includes regular seated Zumba, RDA and MS exercise classes – and she’s now actively enjoying participating in Rock Choir.

During the second half of 2016 Paul’s major commitment has been completing further national revalidations of CEIAG Quality Awards and promoting Quality in Careers nationally, including maintaining the interest and support of the DfE.

During October-December, Paul worked closely with the Quality in Careers Consortium Board looking at potential options to simplify, clarify and rationalise the national quality assurance infrastructure for CEG in schools. The Board has begun consultations in December 2016/January 2017 on proposals with the current quality award providers nationally validated against the Quality in Careers Standard. News on outcomes from this will feature on the Quality in Careers website

www.qualityincareers.org.uk

Alison has just completed a further matrix Standard assessment in south-east Northumberland.

Paul has been reappointed to provide (on a supply for services contract) Company Secretarial services for Citizen Connect Ltd trading as Axia Digital (Batley-based).

http://www.axiadigital.net/public/report.aspx?memberqueryid=AEE42FF9-C8D9-40A3-9741-DE5F4ED5848A&nodeid=EC3AFC4B-3F36-4D4A-BDDD-619AFB133EE6

In addition to completing a number of annual ‘continuous improvement checks’ on organisations holding the Standard, Alison has recently undertaken an assessment of an FE College in the NE of England (it’s first accreditation).

Paul worked with David Andrews to prepare a history of England’s CEIAG QAs and the national validation through Quality in Careers. It was published by the Quality in Careers Consortium in April 2016.

http://www.qualityincareers.org.uk/documents/Public/Quality%20Awards%20for%20CEIAG%20in%20England%20-%20a%20brief%20history%20by%20DA.PAC.QiCCB%207.4.16.pdf

6 of England’s CEIAG Quality Awards achieved national revalidation this spring (February-May 2016). Acting as Director for QiCS, Paul chaired the 6 panels.

http://www.qualityincareers.org.uk/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/2.6.2016-Six-Awards-now-revalidated-for-a-second-three-year-period.pdf

It is with true pleasure that we can announce this Award.

The citation (on page 53 in the List of MBEs if you scour these Lists)https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/489049/NY2016HonoursFullList.pdf