Ravensthorpe CE (VC) Junior School

Year 6 began Careers Week by exploring what aspirations are and why they are important. The children discussed the difference between a career and a job and learned about the various pathways that they can take to achieve their future career goals. They also took part in a virtual session with a radiographer from Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool who shared fascinating insights into her role, explained how she entered the profession and even showed the children some incredible X-rays she has taken throughout her career. It was a fantastic and inspiring start to Careers Week.

On Tuesday, Year 6 had an exciting and educational experience when they were visited by Martin from Proveg who came to teach us about 'green' jobs and the importance of reducing our carbon footprint through the foods we eat. Martin told us about the work he does in schools travelling around the country to spread awareness about sustainable eating and environmental impact. He explained how small changes in our diet can make a big difference to the planet. We also had a guest speaker named Lily, who is the Food To Go Category Manager at Coop. Lily took us through the fascinating process of creating a 'meal deal sandwich,' from the initial idea in someone's mind to the final product on the shelf that customers buy. We were shocked to learn that over 100 people are involved in making just one meal deal sandwich! To end the day, each class was visited by Julie Buxton, our local PCSO, who talked about different roles and careers in the police force. She explained how police officers, dogs, and horses work tirelessly to keep everyone safe. Year 6 listened carefully to all the presentations, asking some really meaningful questions. These visits helped us understand more about different jobs, broadening our opportunities and inspiring us to think about careers we might be interested in in the future. Overall, it was a fantastic day of learning about careers, sustainability, and community safety.

We were visited by members of staff from Kirklees College during Careers Week. They spoke about the different campuses at Kirklees College and how each specialises in different fields of work. The presenters shared details about the wide range of courses offered at the college and explained how these can lead to different jobs. For example, taking a hairdressing and beauty course could help someone become a hairdresser, barber, media makeup artist, or nail technician. They even mentioned an animal centre which would be perfect for those wanting to pursue a career working with animals. We also learned that the Huddersfield campus has a quarter of an aeroplane which helps students get a feel for working on aircraft. The children had a brilliant morning, asking many mature questions about their future careers.  

We also had an eyebrow and eyelash technician visit our Year 6 pupils to share insights into her exciting career in the beauty industry. She explained the skills, creativity and professionalism needed for the role and shared some of the techniques she uses. The children learnt the importance of the beauty industry and how it can positively affect a client’s life. They also completed a task where they had to create a budget for their own salon. This session gave the pupils a valuable understanding of self-employment, client care and the wide range of career opportunities available in the beauty sector.

On Thursday, we were delighted to welcome Neda Qureshi to our school to talk about her inspiring career in healthcare. Neda is an Advanced Clinical Practitioner in Ophthalmology at South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. She is also a Clinical Advisory Group Steering Committee Representative and an Honorary Associate Lecturer at Teesside University. Neda shared her career journey and explained what her role involves. She also spoke about the important skills and qualities needed to succeed in healthcare, including dedication, resilience, and a passion for helping others. We also were able to ask questions about her qualifications which have helped her to secure her role. We also took part in some fun interactive games and activities that helped us understand the different tasks and responsibilities involved in her role. We found the session enjoyable and inspiring, and it encouraged us to think about the many exciting career opportunities available in the NHS and beyond.

Amos, the owner of Dark Faders, came to our school to talk about his successful career as a barber and business owner. Amos shared his journey of building his business and explained the different tools and equipment he uses in his trade. He spoke about why he enjoys his job and told us about some of the famous footballers he has met through his work. Thanks to his hard work and dedication, Amos has expanded his business and now owns two barber shops. He explained that being a successful barber requires important skills such as patience, good listening skills, hand-eye coordination, creativity, confidence, and strong communication skills. Amos told us that one of the things he enjoys most about his job is the opportunity to create and try out new hairstyles for his customers. We especially enjoyed seeing the tools he uses every day and learning more about what life is like as a barber. His visit was both interesting and inspiring, and many of us are now considering a future career in this industry.

Our visitors from Skipton Building Society showed us the wide range of careers available within one company, including roles such as chefs, engineers, designers, managers, and many more. It was fascinating to learn how different skills and interests can lead to a variety of career opportunities. Our visitors shared their own career journeys as a Regional Branch Manager and a Training and Development Specialist, explaining how they entered their professions and the experiences that helped them succeed. We enjoyed hearing about the individual strengths and qualities needed for their roles and learning how these skills help them in their day-to-day work. Their visit helped us understand that there are many different career paths available within a single organisation and inspired us to think about our own future possibilities!

On the last day of our Careers Week in Year 6, we welcomed two, inspiring visitors. Dan Parkinson began his career as a maths teacher and has since progressed into web design and programming with him now running his own business creating websites for a range of different clients. He spoke about the transferable skills and qualifications that supported his career change, highlighting that it is never too late to follow a new path and emphasised the importance of coding in today’s workplace. We also welcomed Darmani Lawrence, a fashion designer who has worked with major brands around the world. He discussed the importance of creativity in his work and shared how he was inspired by his grandfather who was a tailor. The children were excited by these visitors and inspired by the different career journeys shared throughout the day.