A SCHOOL has come top of the class nationally for its careers education.

Hamble Community Sports College has won the Investors in Careers kitemark for the standard of advice which means fewer numbers of students leave the school without any further education, employment or training.

This comes after Ofsted also praised the 1000-pupil college’s careers provision.

Principal Gerry Halley-Gordon said: “We work hard to ensure that those heading towards further and higher education or employment are equipped with the skills and knowledge that they need to make the most of the potential and the opportunities open to them.

“This award is a significant achievement for the college and we will do all we can to maintain the high standard for which we have been recognised.”

Councillor Peter Edgar, Hampshire County Council’s Executive Member for Education, it was the first award of its kind to be presented to a secondary school in Hampshire, since the introduction of the gold standard accreditation.

He said: “When you are young it is often difficult to know what options are open to you and how to make the most of your strengths.

“This is where excellent careers education and guidance comes into its own, helping young people to identify what they want to do when they leave school and what path to take to get them there.”