Region will reap benefits of careers advice to primary schools

Oct 27 2009 by Katy Simpson, The Journal

The Government’s decision to offer careers advice to children as young as seven has raised eyebrows in Gateshead, which has been selected as one of the pilot authorities for the new scheme. But, as Katy Simpson discovered, teachers are hoping the move will see the region’s leading universities become a natural next step for thousands more children.

CAREERS advice for primary school pupils may sound like a “nanny state” suggestion from an interfering Government, but education chief Maggie Atkinson promises generations of Tynesiders will reap the benefits.

Dr Atkinson, director of children’s services in Gateshead, has spoken out in the debate over children as young as seven being given careers-related sessions.

Five schools in Gateshead are taking part in a national government trial, encouraging seven to 11-year-olds and their parents to discuss employment and education choices.

Dr Atkinson hopes the scheme, which is already up and running, will break down social divides and inspire more home-grown talent to apply to North East universities.

She will be up against concerned parents who think seven is far too early for a child to even begin to decide between being a plumber or a teacher.

Dr Atkinson last night said success for the scheme would not come from children picking a career, but on the number of pupils who start to understand – and even expect to go to – university.

She said: “It is a way of this region starting to increase the number of youngsters who see university as ‘for the likes of us’.

“Some of our brightest youngsters just don’t seem to think they have potential as an undergraduate.

“If no one in your family has been to university you don’t have a chance of knowing what it is like.

“This is about busting the myths. They go to a university and see what a campus is like, and parents have told us it has helped to demystify the idea.