Careers
The careers programme at Abbey Park Primary School is led by Richard Martin and delivered to Year 7 pupils by Richard Martin and Jodie Martin. The programme aims to raise aspirations, develop essential employability skills and prepare pupils for the next stage of their educational journey and future working lives. Careers education is taught weekly, providing pupils with regular opportunities to explore the world of work, understand different career pathways and develop the knowledge and skills needed to make informed decisions about their futures.
Throughout the programme, pupils engage in a range of practical activities designed to develop their understanding of employability. These include learning how to write a CV, search for job opportunities, identify the qualifications required for different careers and understand the skills, qualities and experiences valued by employers. Pupils are encouraged to recognise their own strengths, interests and ambitions, helping them to make meaningful connections between their learning and future opportunities. The programme also promotes independence, resilience, communication and self-confidence, equipping pupils with transferable skills that will support them in education and employment.
Careers education is closely linked to the school’s Aspirations curriculum, which is taught throughout Abbey Park Primary School. This whole-school approach ensures that pupils are encouraged to think positively about their futures from an early age, explore a broad range of possibilities and understand that there are many different routes to success. By developing aspirations progressively across the school, pupils are supported to challenge stereotypes, broaden their horizons and recognise the opportunities available to them.
The careers programme is informed by the Gatsby Benchmarks, providing a framework for developing high-quality careers education. Through a combination of planned teaching, practical activities and links to the wider curriculum, Abbey Park aims to ensure that pupils leave Year 7 with increased awareness of career options, a clearer understanding of the world of work and greater confidence in planning their futures.
Rail Careers Talk
Year 7 had a visit from Platform a company which teaches children about the range of careers that are available working for the rail network. They were asked questions both at the start and the end about their understanding of careers on the rails, they did this using voting ‘qr’ codes and he used his phone to scan the room. He also talked about safety when travelling by rail or crossing the railway, including how long it takes a train to stop.
Civic Centre Visit
Year 7 visited the Civic Centre in Pershore, home of Wychavon District Council, as part of their careers curriculum. They spent the afternoon sitting in the council chambers and found out about many of the different jobs undertaken there and what qualifications and experiences those people had. They even got a goody bag!
Transition Day
Pupils in Year 6 on transition day researching the jobs they are aspiring to ready for the Careers work they will undertake next year.
Learn to Earn
Pupils in Year 7 had a fantastic day with the staff from “Learn to Earn” finding out about budgeting a household, jobs for the future, wages before and after tax, and they even interviewed each other. Those being interviewed found it an intense experience. This is a photo of them reviewing their day and processing all they had learned.
Year 7 Enterprise
Pupils in Year 7 were given the challenge to use their entrepreneurial skills to raise money towards their Leavers’ Party.
Each team was given £5 for materials and ingredients.
Year 7 made over £200!
