Schools and education settings from across Carmarthenshire have received a Careers Wales Quality Award (CWQA).
The schools were presented with their awards at a national celebration event in Cardiff on 13 October 2026.
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 following schools and settings received Careers Wales Quality Awards:
- Ysgol Bro Dinefwr, Llandeilo – Gold Award
- Ysgol Glan-y-Môr School, Burry Port – Silver Award
- Burry Port Community Primary School – Bronze Award
- Ysgol Gynradd Llandybie – Bronze Award
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).
Wendy Thomas-Davies, Assistant Headteacher and CWRE co-ordinator at Ysgol Bro Dinefwr, said: “Achieving the Careers Wales Quality Award has been a significant achievement for Ysgol Bro Dinefwr, and we are proud to have been part of the pilot. We found the process clear, supportive and highly beneficial, providing a valuable framework to review, evaluate and strengthen our Careers and Work-Related Experiences (CWRE) provision. The support from Careers Wales throughout the process, alongside the expertise and guidance of our careers adviser, was instrumental in helping us identify strengths, celebrate success and plan for continued improvement.
“Overall, the award has helped us further embed CWRE within our whole-school approach. It has strengthened our curriculum, enhanced staff awareness, increased learner confidence and aspirations, and reinforced our commitment to ensuring that every learner is equipped with the knowledge, skills and experiences needed to make informed decisions about their future. We would strongly recommend the process to other schools as an effective catalyst for reflection, collaboration and continuous improvement.”
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 careerswales.gov.wales/education-and-teaching-professionals/careers-wales-quality-award.
