News

October 4, 2021

Our Future Derby: New findings from ground-breaking regional project

October 4, 2021

Latest research from the Our Future Derby project shows a vitally positive impact on children’s motivation and aspirations at a time when children faced unprecedented challenges in their education. The Our Future Derby project was launched in 2019 to expand children’s horizons, challenge stereotypes, and enhance social mobility. It was commissioned and funded by the Opportunity […]

September 8, 2021

Improving Social Mobility – why you can’t be what you can’t see

September 8, 2021

As life begins to open up again and schools return to some sort of normality, the sense of new term, new start is greater than usual this year. So too, the need to re-engage children with learning and the wider world around them is more pressing now than ever. In this short new video, Social […]

July 21, 2021

Redrawing the Balance in South Africa

July 21, 2021

We launched our 2 minute Redraw the Balance video in 2016 to show the ingrained gender stereotypical views children often have and the importance of tackling these at primary school. The video has been remade in Denmark, China and Canada and South Africa is the latest to recreate the concept. This new version was produced by VVOB […]

July 16, 2021

6th International Conference on Employer Engagement: Preparing Young People for the Future

July 16, 2021

Our 6th International Conference on Employer Engagement took place on 1st and 2nd July 2021. This year’s theme was ‘Preparing Young People for the Future’ and the conference, run in partnership with the Edge Foundation took place virtually for the first time. Going virtual meant we were able to welcome many more delegates and speakers […]

July 15, 2021

Scaling Up: Primary children’s attainment is positively impacted by meeting relatable workplace role models

July 15, 2021

Today Primary Futures publishes Scaling Up, a report on the impact of its programme that brings volunteer role models from the world of work to talk to primary school children about their jobs – and the greatest impact is on children from disadvantaged backgrounds. The largest study of its kind in England, it shows that the […]

June 24, 2021

Shifting perceptions of the NHS: Ambassadors scheme reaches 400,000 young people

June 24, 2021

A report published today shows how the UK’s biggest employer, the NHS, is helping to motivate young people and showing them the range of career opportunities available, whilst at the same time bringing benefits to their own staff. The report evaluating Health Education England’s partnership with the Education and Employers charity, explores the impact of NHS staff chatting […]

June 11, 2021

New Zealand: Primary Futures/Inspiring the Future rolled out nationally

June 11, 2021

The New Zealand government are rolling out Inspiring the Future and its primary version, Primary Futures, to all schools under the name Inspiring the Future Aotearoa. On 27 May 2021, the programme launched to primary and intermediate schools in the country, enabling children to learn about exciting opportunities for their futures, be motivated and see their […]

June 10, 2021

Starting Early: All you need to know in a short video/audio clip

June 10, 2021

In March this year we published our report Starting Early: Building the foundations for success, written by Chris Percy and Alice Amegah. This substantial 65-page report looked at the history of career-related learning at primary level together with the latest evidence internationally and in the UK. It considers how best we can help broaden and raise children’s […]

June 9, 2021

The Voice of the Child

June 9, 2021

We were keen to hear from primary-aged children about how the last year has been for them, how they feel being back at school, and who has inspired them. So, with the help of seven primary schools across the UK we interviewed virtually a range of children exploring their experiences, thoughts and feelings. This is […]

April 8, 2021

Update on virtual interactive sessions

April 8, 2021

Together with teachers and volunteers in spring 2020, we started pioneering virtual interactive sessions via our Inspiring the Future and Primary Futures programmes. The aim was to help young people maintain a connection with the world of work, and indeed with the wider world around them. At a time when motivation and inspiration are needed […]