PUPILS at a Westnewton school have enjoyed a week of fun exploring what they aspire to be in the future.
The pupils at St Matthew’s CofE School have spent the last week taking part in the Primary Business Partnerships (PBP) SkillsBlox programme.
This initiative has been developed by the Centre for Leadership Performance (CforLP) to ensure primary pupils across West Cumbria get the opportunity to meet positive role models from local businesses and develop key skills that they need to be successful in the future.
Pupils involved are taken on a developmental journey to build their confidence and develop their skills. SkillsBlox promotes active learning, through reflection, and develops skills and knowledge, and brings the children’s learning to life.
Each school taking part is allocated a SkillsBlox Advisor to help deliver some of the activities and find local volunteers to bring into the school.
St Matthew’s was supported by Nicola Myers, local entrepreneur and owner of the Fruit and Veg Box Company.
Nicola, with support from the PBP team found volunteers from Cumbria Fire and Rescue, Cumbria Constabulary, Safety Assessment Federation Limited, Fairydust Emporium, Programme Project Partners (PPP), West Cumbria Rivers Trust, KAEFER and a ski instructor.
Nicola said: “Giving local young people the opportunity to see new skills and careers this week has been a welcomed break from running my business. If I have inspired even just one young person then I am very happy!”
The children have taken part in a dress up day coming to school dressed in the clothes of their future dream job. There was also a session to challenge gender stereotypes called Drawing My Dreams.
The children were asked to ‘Draw a Police officer’ 25 children drew a man & 8 drew a woman, ‘Draw a Firefighter’ 24 drew a man & 11 drew a woman and ‘Draw an Engineer’ 29 drew a man & 8 drew a woman.
The activity aims to raise awareness and break down gender stereotype when it comes to careers. The children then had the opportunity to meet the real people, discuss their drawings and learn about their jobs.
Claire Johnson, Primary Programme Manager CforLP SkillsBlox said: “It's clear that we've still got a long way to go, it's so important that our children get the chance to meet these great role models and break down the gender stereotypes attached to careers.”
Each child who takes part in the programme is given a SkillsBlox passport. These passports are the key to the whole programme with children getting these in EYFS being able to take their passport through the whole of primary school life and see how they have built on the essential skills that they will need to be successful in the future.
Claire Johnson, Primary Programme Manager at CforLP said: “We have had a brilliant week at St Matthew’s, the children were amazing and enjoyed meeting all the wonderful volunteers who came to tell them all about the different types of jobs they do.
"I think it is so important to start telling children about the options available to them at primary school so that they don’t discount certain careers, as with hard work and determination they can fulfil their dreams.”
The Centre for Leadership and Performance are expanding the SkillsBlox programme in academic year 22/23 Schools, following a year of piloting our scheme we now have 10 more school places on our SkillsBlox programme for 2022-2023 for primary schools in Allerdale and Copeland.
Find out more and get in touch at https://primarybusinesspartnership.org.uk/.../skills-blox/
The group also need SkillsBlox Advisors to support these schools please get in contact with claire.johnson@pbp.org.uk if you are interested in taking part.
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