CAREERS staff have won high praise for helping to guide students along the best path in life.

Guidance Services at Darlington College have secured the Matrix accreditation, a national standard for quality.

Assessors inspected the service against 23 criteria looking at aims, resources, service and leadership and management.

The official Matrix report stated that the service has ‘a strong commitment to quality assurance and strives for continuous improvement’.

It adds: “Strong ethical values and high professional integrity are evident throughout the service and are integral to providing good support. Staff are highly proactive in using and developing both internal and external contacts to improve the support available.”

Assessors also highlighted the fact that managers are keen to embrace suggestions.

Manager of the careers team Andrew Calder said: “Our support underpins everything that the college aims to do to ensure that it is the most useful experience to students.

“This is a huge achievement for us and something very positive for the college.”