The first 21 students from St. Ninian’s High School on the Isle of Man have sat their Microsoft Office Specialist Word Certification Exam. St. Ninian’s High School is one of five secondary schools on the Isle of Man and is the first school to hold a MOS Test Fest on the Island. Over half of the students successfully earned their MOS Word Certificate and Digital Badge validating their future-ready Microsoft Office Skills, with the top student scoring a very impressive 968/1000.
Not only did they receive MOS Certification, but the students were also treated on this very special occasion by Manx Education Foundation (MEF) to a delicious delivery of pizza to the school. This success story has not only caught our attention, it also caught the eye of 3FM who took a visit to the school to interview Steph Gregg and Cath Aldridge and learn all about their MOS Test Fest, you can watch the interview here.
The three students who achieved top scores will be progressing from the school’s MOS Test Fest to the Isle of Man Final which is to be held in the Business School where they will be representing St. Ninian’s High School. 3 successful students each from the Ramsay Grammar School & Queen Elizabeth II High School Test Fest’s will also be joining the St. Ninian’s students in the Isle of Man Final in May. The main prize for the MOS winner at the Isle of Man Final is a trip of a lifetime to the MOS Four Nations 2018 Final which will be held in London in June.
The main prize for each MOS category winner, Word, PowerPoint & Excel at the MOS Four Nations 2018 Final is a once in a lifetime trip to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando, Florida to compete in the MOS World Championship.The MOS Test Fest at St. Ninian’s is a culmination of a great deal of effort from MEF, a huge drive for certifications at the school by teacher Jim Hunter, and approximately 4 months of online studying & self-directed learning with the help of IT teacher Cath Aldridge.
The MEF are working with all five secondary schools on the island as a Foundation to produce students who will be equipped with MOS Certifications. With MOS Certification on their CV secondary students from the Island will be able to differentiate themselves in a highly competitive job market. Proving they have core skills in Microsoft Office applications can not only increase employment prospects, it can also result in higher earning potential.
Steph Gregg (Business Development Manager, MEF) said “We are incredibly proud of St. Ninian’s students who are the first students on the Isle of Man to achieve their Microsoft Office Specialist Certification. The secondary schools on the Island are working together as a foundation to produce students qualified as Microsoft Office Specialists Certified professionals, which will go on their CV’s and stand them in very good stead when they are looking for jobs out in our community.”
Commenting on how the students have found studying for the MOS Certification Exam, Cath Aldridge (IT Teacher, St. Ninian’s High School) said “As the preparation and learning for the MOS Exam is independent and self-directed, students are finding preparing for their Exam quite enjoyable as they can work at home and in school, each at their own pace”.
Andrew Griggs UK Country Manager , Prodigy Learning added: “Congratulations to the St. Ninian’s students, MEF, teachers and all involved in ensuring the MOS Test Fest was a huge success. Building on this momentous achievement we are really looking forward to seeing how the students get on in the next MOS Test Fest which is taking place soon. Having a MOS Certificate will make these student’s future-ready skills very much in demand among employers and hugely increase their employability prospects as they head out into the workforce.”
