Careers

Our Vision

We aim to ensure that our children believe that they can achieve ambitious goals in order to be a success in any career they wish to follow.

We know that even at the young age of three or four, children are already starting to form their first aspirations. By six they are starting to have opinions on what they think they can or can’t do in the future. By the time they’re 10, young people start to make decisions which could go on to limit their future options.

At Pelton Community Primary School, we believe that all children have the potential to flourish, reach their full potential and be whatever they aspire to be in life. Our key curriculum drivers underpin this belief:

Our curriculum is driven by challenging stereotypes and building cultural capital where our children have the knowledge and experiences to be successful and make choices without limits.
Our curriculum promotes the importance of being aspirational where our children believe that they can achieve ambitious goals in order to have a successful career.

What does this look like in our school?

Making meaningful links to the world of work within curriculum lessons
Providing children with opportunities to learn from real world contexts, interact with employers and experience workplaces
Enabling children to make links between what they are learning in the classroom and the practical application of that knowledge (and skills)
Ensuring that children begin to understand the skills required in the workplace and have opportunities to develop these
Helping children understand the opportunities available to them in the local and regional labour market, and variety of pathways into these roles, including through further and higher education.

Gatsby Primary Enterprise Benchmarks & Framework and what they look like in Pelton Community Primary School.

A stable careers programme (GB1) - Every school and college should have an embedded programme of career education and guidance.

At Pelton Community Primary School, this is set out in our PSHE/RSE curriculum and in our enrichment curriculum which shows how we enhance our curriculum and raise aspirations through careers activities, visits, visitors and other experiences. This information is available on our school website.

Learning from career and labour market information (GB2) - Every pupil, and their parents, should have access to good-quality information about future study options and labour market opportunities.

At Pelton Community Primary School, this is set out in our PSHE/RSE curriculum and additional information is available on our school website (see career and labour market information links)

Addressing the needs of each pupil (GB3) - Pupils have different career guidance needs at different stages. Opportunities for advice and support need to be tailored to the needs of each pupil. A school’s careers programme should embed equality and diversity considerations throughout.

At Pelton Community Primary School, the curriculum is designed appropriately and reflects the equality and diversity of our school population and wider community population. Children are given opportunities to apply for, and undertake ambassadorial roles within school, for example School Council, Sports leaders, Buddies, Peer Mentors, Library Monitors and class jobs. All our children who are eligible for Pupil Premium and those with SEND, work closely with their teacher to complete an ‘All About Me’ profile which is personal to each of them.

Linking curriculum learning to careers (GB4) - All teachers should link curriculum learning with careers. For example, STEM subject teachers should highlight the relevance of STEM subjects for a wide range of future career paths.

At Pelton Community Primary School all of our learning journeys across the curriculum have careers links which teachers discuss with the children. Every year group has access to books, in the library, linked to careers and aspirations. All subject display boards around the school have careers linked to each particular subject.

Encounters with employers and employees (GB5) - Every pupil should have multiple opportunities to learn from employers about work, employment and the skills that are valued in the workplace. This can be through a range of enrichment activities including visiting speakers, mentoring and enterprise schemes.

At Pelton Community Primary School this is set out in our enrichment curriculum which shows how we enhance our curriculum and raise aspirations through careers activities, visits, visitors and other experiences. This information is available on our school website. Across the year, we invite employers and employees to hold assemblies in school to discuss their chosen careers. Each year we have a Careers Fair where employers and employees are invited into school to talk to the children about their careers. We also actively look for additional encounters with employers and employees for our children across the year.

Experiences of workplaces (GB6) - Every pupil should have first-hand experiences of the workplace through work visits, work shadowing and/or work experience to help their exploration of career opportunities and expand their networks.

At Pelton Community Primary School, this is set out in our enrichment curriculum which shows how we enhance our curriculum and raise aspirations through careers activities, visits, visitors and other experiences. This information is available on our school website. We also actively look for additional experiences of workplaces for our children across the year.

Encounters with further and higher education (GB7) - All pupils should understand the full range of learning opportunities that are available to them. This includes both academic and vocational routes and learning in schools, colleges, universities and in the workplace.

At Pelton Community Primary School, we have visits to feeder secondary schools and visitors from these schools also visit the children within our school setting. We also have strong links with secondary schools within our trust.

Personal guidance (GB8) - Every pupil should have opportunities for guidance interviews with a career’s adviser, who could be internal (a member of school staff) or external, provided they are trained to an appropriate level.

Each year we have a Careers Fair where employers and employees are invited into school to talk to the children about their careers. Our children can ask questions about all of the different careers and particularly those that are of interest to them.

What is Labour Market Information (LMI) and why is it important?

Labour Market Information (LMI) tells you about the jobs that are available in the area that you live in.

It's useful to help you learn about future jobs in the local area (the north east), understand the skills you need for certain roles and the demand for future employment.

Take a look below at careers information for the North East...

The North East top 12 employment sectors

The number of extra workers needed by 2027

The jobs that will grow in the North East the most in the future

Career’s Week

During Careers Week, the whole school took part in a range of exciting activities.
We began with a whole-school assembly, where staff shared the jobs, they had before working in education. Throughout the week, each class was given a career theme and created a piece of artwork inspired by it. Our EYFS classes produced some lovely doctor-themed paintings, while KS2 created impressive artwork linked to soldiers.

KS2 pupils also had the opportunity to attend an engaging Careers Fair.
They visited a range of stalls, asked thoughtful questions, and discovered more about a wide variety of professions. Visitors were extremely impressed with the children’s behaviour and the quality of the questions they asked throughout the event. Pupils explored careers such as Chef, Music Specialist, Residential Home Manager, Cyber Security, Mental Health Nurse, Vet, Immigration Officer, Northumbrian Water and Avove representatives, Television Production Designer, Firefighter, Beamish Museum Learning Co-ordinator, Community Safety Officer and Army Combat Medic. In addition, the Music Specialist and Vet also visited KS1 to share their careers, ensuring younger pupils were included in the experience. It was an inspiring event that broadened pupils’ understanding of future pathways and the world of work.

Across the week, pupils also attended online workshops, listened to visitors speak about their careers, and wrote about what they hope to become in the future. Year 6 spent an additional afternoon with Avove and Northumbrian Water, taking part in a range of hands-on activities and being introduced to the world of construction through an interactive building simulator. We ended the week with a special dress-up day, where children came to school dressed as the career they aspire to pursue. It was a fun and inspiring celebration of the world of work.

Nissan Engagement Day

Pupils from Years 1 to 6 took part in Nissan’s School Engagement Day, enjoying a unique opportunity to explore the world of engineering and manufacturing.
The event featured a hands-on workshop filled with interactive activities that made the complex process of car production both fun and accessible.

After learning about Nissan, the vehicles they create, and the wide range of careers within the company, pupils put their new knowledge into practice by building Lego cars and designing their own imaginative models. It was an inspiring and engaging experience for all involved.

Links to useful careers websites

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zdqnxyc

(find your perfect job)

https://www.northeastambition.co.uk/resources (Careers resources tailored towards North East schools)

https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/ (Government website containing careers information, advice and guidance.)

https://www.apprenticeships.gov.uk/ (Information about taking an apprenticeship route into employment)

https://www.careersandenterprise.co.uk/schools-colleges/primary-school-toolkit (Information about how primary schools are raising aspirations.)

https://www.tomorrowsengineers.org.uk/ (Information and guidance to develop aspirations in engineering)

https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/ (A wealth of information and resources aimed to develop aspirations of working in the NHS)

https://icould.com/

https://nustem.uk/stem-person-of-the-week/

https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/class-clips-video/pshe-ks1-ks2-what-is-my-job/zrdkt39