The Heart of Yorkshire Education Group has been awarded the Matrix standard for its Careers Guidance and Course Information services – helping to deliver outstanding, impartial support to more than 10,000 learners across Castleford, Selby and Wakefield.
As part of the accreditation process, inspectors praised the relationships the Group has developed with local universities, employers and health and local authority services, enabling students to benefit from seamless referral routes and up‑to‑date labour‑market insight.
The experience and knowledge of the Group’s Careers Team were also acknowledged, highlighting that students receive expert, personalised guidance.
This ensured measurable student outcomes, with retention and achievement rates above national benchmarks. Students are clear about their future plans, with destination data demonstrating a rise in progression to further study, apprenticeships and employment.
One student stated:
"We know who the Careers Adviser is from the beginning of our journey and they have one-to-ones with us so that we can explore what we want to do. Our tutors are always asking about this and every week we talk about either coming back to college, getting a job, volunteering or getting an apprenticeship.”
Leigh Allsopp, Group Strategic Careers Leader at the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group, said:
“We’re proud to have once again earned this external accreditation which is a clear recognition of the exceptional service delivered by our Careers and Course Information teams. Their commitment, professionalism and drive made this possible. The rigorous assessment included in-depth conversations with students, staff and stakeholders across the Group, along with a detailed review of outcomes and impact. This result confirms that students at the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group receive high-quality advice and guidance that empowers them to make informed, confident decisions about their futures.”