In conjunction with Prodigy Learning and Microsoft Software, the Manx Education Foundation (MEF) has launched the important IT qualification “Microsoft Office Specialist” with upwards of 140 Year 9 students at RGS.  The training in this important qualification will be self-paced online learning and will offer our students the choice to gain certification in Microsoft Word which could help them enhance their future employability. 

The launch featured presentations from IT industry experts Craig Bewley, Director of Prodigy Learning, and Mark McManus, Microsoft Cloud Services Business Manager.  Microsoft is the world’s largest producer of computer software and Prodigy Learning is an award winning provider of IT learning and certification solutions for Adobe, Autodesk, Microsoft and other technologies.  Craig and Mark also gave insight to Year 11 and Sixth Form students into IT as a future career.  MEF Project Manager, Jackie Fisher said: “We are really pleased to work in partnership with Ramsey Grammar School to deliver this industry standard qualification to Year 9 students and the school’s Digital Leaders group.  For us this is also an excellent opportunity to promote the IT sector on the island and to make young people aware of the career opportunities in this field.”

Ramsey Grammar School Headteacher, Annette Baker said: “We are delighted to work with employers in the IT sector on this exciting new initiative which we hope will result in our young people having a qualification which will open up opportunities to them in the future.  I would like to thank Jackie Fisher and Executive Director of MEF, David Butterworth for working with us on a project which is simultaneously of economic and educational benefit to young people and the Isle of Man.”

Photo - Annette Baker, Mark McManus, Jackie Fisher, Manx Education Foundation (MEF), Craig Bewley, Prodigy Learning, Andrew Titley, MEF.