A SECONDARY school in Widnes has been shortlisted for a major award.
Ormiston Chadwick Academy (OCA) is a finalist in the Careers & Enterprise category at the 2026 Educate Awards, which celebrate schools and colleges that prepare young people for the world of work through innovative careers education and enterprise opportunities.
The academy integrates careers education throughout its curriculum and offers dedicated career-focused lessons to help students understand the relevance of their studies to future employment.
Kim O’Brien, founder of the Educate Awards, said: "Congratulations to Ormiston Chadwick Academy, which has been shortlisted for this year’s Educate Awards.
"Once again, our esteemed panel of judges have been blown away by the quality of this year’s entries, and more importantly, the incredible and inspirational work taking place across the region."
Year 9 students at OCA take part in an in-house work experience programme, designed to build the confidence and skills needed for external placements in Year 10.
These opportunities are made possible through partnerships with employers, charities, universities, and public sector organisations, offering valuable industry insights and networking.
The academy also runs its NEXT steps programme, which provides targeted mentoring for students at risk of becoming not in education, employment or training (NEET).
This support helps them overcome barriers and progress successfully to further education or employment.
The winners will be announced at a ceremony on Friday, November 13, at Liverpool Cathedral.
This year marks the 15th anniversary of the Educate Awards, which feature 21 categories covering all aspects of education, from communications and partnerships to STEM, the arts, and sport.
Ms O’Brien said: "Selecting the shortlist has been no mean feat for our judges and we are now looking forward to celebrating with all finalists as we prepare to roll out our iconic red carpet in November for an awards ceremony befitting our fifteenth anniversary."
The awards are the largest of their kind in the North West, bringing together nurseries, schools, colleges, and multi-academy trusts from Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, and Merseyside.
The shortlist was announced on September 16 via the Educate Awards’ social media channels.
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