Primary Futures, run by charity Education & Employers, organsied an event at St Eanswythe’s Primary School in Folkestone with Sam Gyimah, Childcare and Education Minister, on Thursday 19th May 2016.
It saw employee volunteers come together to raise the aspirations of primary school children by talking with pupils face-to-face about their job and career. The event introduced the children to jobs they haven’t heard of before, broadened their horizons and encouraged them to aim high. Diverse volunteers taking part ranged from the Head of Coastal Operations at the Maritime & Coastguard Agency to an Associate Surveyor from Women in Surveying.
According to 2015 research published by Kent County Council, Folkestone is within the top 10% most deprived areas of Kent, the South East and the whole country. Primary Futures helps to show children that there are interesting jobs to aspire to in their area.
Childcare and Education Minister Sam Gyimah said: “Careers guidance in primary schools is about broadening horizons and making children aware of all the future job options available to them. Primary Futures is an excellent example of how this can be achieved in an interesting and stimulating way, and I look forward to seeing it in practice at St Eanswythe’s Primary School.”
Above: Sam Gyimah having a discussion with the children about the range of jobs available to them.
Jane Garrett, Headteacher St Eanswythe’s Primary School in Folkestone said: “We are very excited about the opportunity to have Primary Futures in school. We are very conscious that we live in a rapidly changing world and that a lot of jobs that St Eanswythe’s children will be engaged in have not yet been invented. However, it is useful for our children to start to think about the sort of careers that they would in interested in; what is involved and how their education impacts on their career path. The Primary Futures conference provides inspiration and a blue print for further work in school.”
Below: Actress, writer and local parent Jessica Hynes compared the ‘What’s my Line?’ session with the pupils and six volunteers. Jessica is famous for television comedies such as W1A, 2012 and Spaced.
