On 5 December Gateway Primary School, Carterton in Oxfordshire, took part in a new initiative aimed at widening the horizons of primary school children. Gateway invited Primary Futures volunteers to visit and talk about their job. Primary Futures aims to raise aspirations and help children understand the link between learning in school and the world of work so they will be motivated to improve their academic performance.
The event had classroom insight talks with diverse volunteers taking part including; the UK’s first female RAF Air-Vice-Marshal, an Aston Martin engineer, a merchant navy captain, a chef, a prison officer, a geologist, a PepsiCo financial controller, a dermatologist, an entrepreneur, a lawyer, a publisher, a TV producer and a zoological education coordinator.
Lord Nash, Parliamentary Under-Secretary in the Department for Education chaired a “What’s my line?” activity with volunteers and pupils.
Schools Minister Lord Nash said: “I was delighted to be able to attend the Primary Futures event at Gateway Primary School in Carterton, Oxfordshire. It is an outstanding initiative which will see thousands of people across the country helping primary pupils to see the link between what they learn in schools and what they could one day do in the workplace. Primary Futures will provide invaluable support to the work this Government is doing to build closer links between employers and schools, ensuring every child is fully prepared for life in modern Britain and to make a positive contribution to the economy in the future.”
Prime Minister, David Cameron said: “Children who understand the link between the world of work and what they learn in school are much more likely to achieve. Primary Futures is a great nationwide initiative developed by the National Association of Head Teachers and charity the Education and Employers Taskforce. It gets people from different backgrounds doing a wide range of jobs from apprentices to CEOs, archaeologists to zoologists to volunteer an hour of their time to visit local schools across the country and talk to children. It’s a great campaign and one that deserves the widest support. Over 18,000 people have already signed up and I encourage you to join them.”
Russell Hobby, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) says: “Primary Futures is transforming the way children connect their learning in primary school with the many opportunities that lie ahead. The project also opens up the world of work to the children – right at the age where they are beginning to develop their aspirations and ambitions. I would wholeheartedly encourage every employer to support this scheme by becoming volunteers and every school to take advantage by joining us on this exciting journey.”
Secretary of State for Education, Nicky Morgan says: “I am delighted to support this initiative. We want schools to connect with industry and the business community in order to inspire children to consider the vast array of different opportunities available to them.
See our Flickr album: https://www.flickr.com/photos/edu_employers/sets/72157649653216742/
Read the press release: MEDIA RELEASE Primary Futures comes to Oxfordshire