Information, advice and guidance hit gold standard

22nd December 2008 9:22am - Return to press releases

East Riding College has been awarded top marks for the quality of advice and support it provides to students.
The College has met the demanding criteria laid down by the East Riding Gold Standard
for Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG).
It means students can be assured of sound advice and good support whenever they need the help of the College's advice and guidance team.
The team help students on a wide range of issues, including personal problems, careers advice, financial help, course choices and transport arrangements.

Guidance services manager Dennis Young said: "This is an excellent achievement for the College.
"A lot of effort has gone into providing an excellent service to students and demonstrating that the work we do meets the very demanding requirements of the gold standard."

Ann Yates, the College's director of learner services, said: "I'm delighted that the work of College guidance staff has been recognised in this way. 
"Guidance staff are always happy to speak to any school leaver or adult who wants advice on course or career choices, and those who choose to study at East Riding College can now be certain that they are getting the very best advice available."

The East Riding Gold Standard is intended to provide a tool for schools, colleges and training providers to assess their information, advice and guidance against a very detailed and exacting process.
The criteria were drawn up by experienced professionals at the East Riding Learning Partnership, Connexions Humber, the Learning and Skills Council and East Riding of Yorkshire Council.
They are made up of nine elements which aim to ensure information, advice and guidance is accessible, visible, of high quality, diverse, impartial and responsive.

In recommending that East Riding College be awarded the gold standard, the assessors said "Learners value very highly the individual help available to them.  "Worthy of particular note is the work of the in-house guidance officers Melanie Brown and Lesley Culpan, and the community guidance officer Michaela Blackford".   The report went on to say "the College demonstrates a continuous improvement philosophy to its IAG provision".

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For more information on this press release, call Matthew Croshaw, marketing and communications manager, on 01482 306612 or email [email protected]