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Hermitage Academy in Helensburgh is celebrating after the school received Platinum status in the Investors in Young People Award Scheme, the highest accolade in the programme. The latest achievement makes it the first school in Scotland to gain national recognition at bronze, silver, gold and platinum levels. 

Following a previous visit to the Scottish Parliament, pupils invited First Minister John Swinney, MSP to hear more about the work the school is carrying out to help young people gain employability skills to help with the transition, from education into the world of work. During his visit, the First Minister unveiled the Platinum Investors in Young People Platinum plaque. 

The Investors in Young People report praised Hermitage Academy’s strong culture of professional growth, noting the wide range of leadership opportunities available at all levels, a dynamic professional learning programme, and vocational training that supports continuous development.

Assessors also recognised Hermitage Academy’s effective partnerships and its success in preparing pupils for life beyond school, with Initial Leaver Destination results this year being the highest on record. The report identified areas of strength including, the schools nurturing ethos, positive relationships between staff and pupils, and the valuable opportunities given to young people to lead change within the school.

First Minister John Swinney said:

“Congratulations to Hermitage Academy for achieving the Platinum Investors in Young People Award in May this year. This is a well-deserved accolade of the highest order and the staff and pupils should be proud of this achievement.

“Hermitage Academy passionately supports young talent and places young colleagues and pupils at the heart of everything they do. It was a joy to tour the school, and see their excellent work in action.”

Councillor Audrey Forrest, ����Ů��’s Policy Lead for Education: 

“To progress from every level right up to the highest platinum standard is a remarkable achievement. It was a real privilege to visit Hermitage Academy and congratulate everyone, in person for this fantastic award. With only three per cent of Investors in Young People organisations in the UK share this accolade, you should be proud of all your hard work. 

Helping young people learn, develop and grow so they can thrive both now and in the future is central to everything we do in Education. The work at the Academy is a great example of that vision delivering real results. Thanks to the commitment from staff and working with partners to prepare our young people for life beyond school, leaver destination results are the highest on record.”

Douglas Morgan, Head Teacher at Hermitage Academy:

‘We are incredibly proud to have achieved the Investors in Young People Award at Platinum level — a recognition that reflects the dedication, commitment, and collaborative spirit of both our staff and pupils. The assessor’s feedback highlighted the outstanding efforts made across our school community to support and inspire our young people, and we’re delighted that this work has been formally acknowledged. We were also extremely grateful to the First Minister, John Swinney, for unveiling the award plaque during his visit.’