East Riding Primary Schools become first in country to achieve award for career related learning
Kingsway Primary School in Goole and Burlington Junior School in Bridlington have become the first primary schools in the country to be awarded the nationally endorsed Career Mark Primary Gold award for good practice in career learning.
The Gold award is only available to schools who’ve achieved three consecutive Career Mark awards. The Career Mark is assessed every two years and both schools have held the award over a six year period, before being the first to achieve the Gold award.
The schools have demonstrated that they have broadened children’s knowledge of different careers, employability skills and learning pathways. Kingsway Primary School and Burlington Junior School have engaged pupils through special events, activities and visits that aim to motivate the children and develop their interests and skills.
At Kingsway Primary School they celebrate careers learning with an annual ‘Future Me Day’, where children can dress up in costumes to represent a career they would like to aim for. They explore careers that interest them and find out about the skills and qualifications needed to achieve their goals. Visitors from a range of professions attend to inspire children and provide them with a breadth of knowledge for a range of jobs.
The school gives children experience of applying for jobs; with the children completing an application form, describing what they are able to do in relation to a job description, and participate in an interview process.
The opening of the latest SIEMENS factory in Goole facilitated an exciting project for children in Year 5. The club, which ran over eight weeks, encouraged children to be scientists, designers, engineers and mathematicians to design and create a moving, battery operated train. To celebrate their success, children from Engineering Club were invited to the factory to present their models and had the opportunity to have a question and answer session with engineers working at SIEMENS, to find out more about their professions. Children from Kingsway Primary were delighted to achieve the award for ‘Best Themed’ train!
Kristina Frary, Kingsway Primary School Headteacher, said: “The aim of our careers curriculum is to regularly discuss possible career opportunities so that children engage with learning activities with an understanding of the relevance of these to their future. We are committed to inspiring pupils and ensuring they have the knowledge and skills to make decisions about their futures.”
Louise Kirby, Acting Headteacher at Burlington Junior School said: “We are very proud at Burlington Junior School to have achieved the Career Mark Primary Gold award. It is essential that our pupils learn about a wide range of different jobs to enable them to make informed career choices in the future.
“The children experience careers through various activities, partnerships with other schools and local businesses, as well through visits by professionals in different fields of work and going on visits themselves. The children have really enjoyed taking part in ‘Run With It’ at a local football club, careers fairs, and visits from Ambassadors of Bridlington focusing on tourism, Farmer Tom discussing agriculture, and the ‘World of Work’ involving a range of local companies. This career-focused work has widened the children’s knowledge and helped to develop aspirations and create positive futures.”
To achieve the Gold award schools must also ensure staff are trained in career learning and how it can help to raise motivation and achievement amongst children.
The award is assessed by a careers professional who assesses the programme in place and talks to staff and children about how the career programme is helping pupils to link their education to their future learning and work.
Councillor Victoria Aitken, cabinet member for children, families and education said: “Supporting and inspiring children to reach their full potential is a priority. Career related learning is shown to help children and young people to learn, and to develop skills for life – preparing them for the jobs of the future. I’m delighted that these East Riding schools have achieved the Gold award and have demonstrated their commitment to igniting a passion that will continue beyond the children’s primary education and into their futures.”
All infant, junior and primary schools and maintained nurseries in the East Riding can access free career education consultations through East Riding of Yorkshire Council, by emailing esp.team@eastriding.gov.uk
Businesses who would like to support schools with career learning visits can get in touch via email: esp.team@eastriding.gov.uk
