Raising Aspirations

Teachers TV looks at how children can be inspired by the world of work.

The programme features Swalwell Primary School in Gateshead which is based on an estate where many are long-term unemployed. Previously a large number of the children at the school had little understanding of the world of work or had very limited aspirations.



The school aims to raise the aspirations of children at the school by embedding career-related learning across the curriculum. SEAL is used as a platform to discuss and explore different careers, while teachers relate subjects like maths to the world of work. The ethos of the school is to demonstrate to children the purpose of going to school and how education and learning fits into the ‘bigger picture’.



The school supports the connection between school and the world of work through a series of initiatives. The school works with Headstart, a scheme which delivers hands-on workshops for children to get a feel for jobs. Workshops are presented at the school by local employees such as telecommunications engineers, chemists and mechanics. The workshops provide tangible role models, make links to education and beyond 16/18, and challenge gender stereotyping.



The school also works with Newcastle University who invite Year 6 pupils to spend a day on campus. Through these visits children learn about university life, that university is open to all, and that certain careers require higher education qualifications.



This programme shows how the introduction of career-related learning in Years 5 and 6 improved attainment and raised aspirations in a deprived area of Gateshead. The activities underline the importance of partnerships and raising aspirations for all abilities. They include:

Getting children to imagine their future lives (integrated with the SEAL programme)
Using ICT and maths in a practical and fun way to explore the world of work
Visiting universities and having contact students (linked to the Students into Schools scheme)
Taking part in a careers morning with ‘hands-on’ activities provided by employers many of whom have brought along younger workers to run them (as part of the Headstart programme for Y6 children)
Challenging gender stereotypes by getting the children to match pictues of people with job titles.
The programme was first broadcast at the beginning of February and can now be downloaded from the Teachers TV website at http://www.teachers.tv/video/31454