Skills minister Nick Boles visits City of London Academy

As well as meeting pupils and teachers, the minister was given a tour of the academy's facilities by principal Richard Bannister and members of the senior leadership team.

Nick Boles said: "A key part of this Government's plan for education is ensuring that schools are properly preparing all young people for the world of work, and the City of London Academy (Southwark) is a great example of a school which is doing precisely that. I was delighted to see so many motivated pupils being given such excellent support as they look towards the future."

Principal Richard Bannister said: "We were delighted to welcome Nick Boles to the City of London Academy (Southwark) and for him to see education on the impact of equalities issues in practice.

"The students found the visit extremely useful and enjoyed sharing their views on equalities with Nick Boles."

Also accompanying the minister was Catherine McGuinness, chair of the Education Board of the City of London Corporation.

She said: "As a sponsor of the academy, we are focused on providing pupils with opportunities that enrich their school experience. We connect the pupils with City businesses, whether it is through apprenticeships, work placements or mentoring.

"We know this exposure to employability and vocational skills is something that the minister is a passionate about, so it was great to share with him some of the strong examples of this type of learning."