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Guest:

Kelly Guthery

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In this episode of Beyond the Grade, Andrew Hammond sits down with Kelly Guthery, Education Quality Advisor at Outcomes First Group, to discuss career guidance and how we define success in education.

Kelly shares her experience working with young people to help them discover their passions and what excites them, alongside practical insights into how schools can build the foundations for positive, meaningful outcomes.

Together, Andrew and Kelly challenge the idea that success is measured only by exams and qualifications. Instead, they advocate for a broader view that values personal growth, confidence, and development. They explore why exams should be seen as tools to open doors – not the final destination – and discuss the importance of developing wider skills to support young people’s futures.

A thought-provoking episode for educators, parents, and anyone passionate about helping young people succeed beyond the grade.

Kelly Guthery

Kelly is an Education Quality Advisor at Outcomes First Group.
Having started her career as an award-winning paediatric nurse, Kelly found her passion for careers guidance whilst campaigning for better relationships between Universities and placement providers particularly within nursing. Her experiences led her to meet many education facilities struggling to provide effective guidance and opportunities to young people, especially within Special Education Needs (SEN).
Kelly joined Outcomes First Group as Group Careers and Employability lead in 2000 and her work across the school and college settings supporting young people with SEN led to her being recognised as the Careers Leader of the Year 2022 at the UK Career Development Awards.
Kelly has since gained her MA in Career Development and Employability and Certificate in Careers Support with students with SEND, she is dedicated to supporting the young people within her organisation to ‘Dream Big’ and achieve their aspirations. She continues to raise awareness of the incredible skills the students have to offer, but also to highlight the many barriers that still exist that they must overcome for success.

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