A private school in Blackburn has been praised after winning at an award ceremony.  

Westholme School has won a national award for its careers programme, which has helped students secure top university places and degree apprenticeships. 

The school was named winner of the Student Careers Programme award at this year’s Independent School of the Year awards.

Westholme, which celebrates its centenary this year, was crowned winner of its category seeing off competition from other leading schools in the country.

More than 700 nominations were submitted this year, and teachers and representatives from the leading domestic and international British Independent Schools gathered in London for the presentation evening.

Jonathan Oracz, head of the school’s INSPIRED sixth form, which has termly fees of £4,550, attended the event. 

He said: “We are incredibly proud to receive this recognition for our careers experience for our INSPIRED sixth form students, and our dedication to ensuring every child’s development throughout the school is rooted in the acquisition of the 21st century essential skills imperative for the wider workplace.”

This year, the awards were announced by Dr Helen Wright, chair of the independent panel of judges. Dr Wright is the former president of the Girls’ Schools Association and vice chair of ISC.

Judges praised Westholme’s personalised approach to students and outstanding success in supporting their aspirations, specifically praising this year’s success with level six degree apprenticeship offers from businesses. 

Westholme’s success this year ensured students gained both Russell Group university acceptances and as many as seven level six degree apprenticeship places to choose from. 

Students gained places at the Universities of Oxford, Manchester, Durham, Liverpool and more, with leavers moving into a plethora of degrees, including medicine, law, architecture, classics, graphic design, performing arts, midwifery and engineering. 

Those who secured level six degree apprenticeships, versus hundreds of applicants across the country, gained places at the BBC, KPMG, PwC, Jaguar Land Rover, the Civil Service, Sellafield and ARUP.

Their applications benefited from the dedicated careers programme at Westholme.

This includes personalised guidance from head of careers Mrs Caroline Hibberd, Mr Oracz, and the INSPIRED Sixth Form tutor team, who all work closely with every student to guide, advise and support them throughout their aspirational journey. 

Mr Oracz added: “Our unrivalled holistic opportunities, alongside the unparalleled commitment and dedication of every teacher to ensuring academic rigour within our warm, family atmosphere, are instrumental in ensuring our students leave with both the grades and all of the qualities and character that ensure they are both ready and able to succeed as leaders in their field beyond Westholme.

“It was a proud moment for Westholme to be rewarded with this incredible accolade and recognition for the hard work of our entire staff and student body.”