Mini Apprentice Day
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Salford City Academy supported Barton Moss primary school when it staged its first ‘Aspirations' event recently, with youngsters from all year groups taking part in a packed programme of careers themed activities.
Salford City Academy supported Barton Moss primary school when it staged its first ‘Aspirations' event recently, with youngsters from all year groups taking part in a packed programme of careers themed activities.
During the week, Year 5 pupils participated in a ‘Mini Apprentice' day at Salford City Academy, where they worked as florists, beauticians, package designers and bakers in a Mother's Day themed enterprise challenge.
As part of its transition partnership programme, Salford City Academy was keen to support the event and organised the interactive sessions to give the children a flavour of life beyond school. All the sessions were designed to teach business, design, marketing and communication skills with the business objective of producing and marketing a Mothers Day treat.
The children were inspired by hands on sessions, for example, floristry with Jackie from Carol's Florist and mini hand treatments, including massage and manicure, with Beauty teacher Miss Anderson at the academy's in-house beauty salon.
Salford City Academy Principal Mike Cording hosted an awards ceremony to celebrate the children's commitment and apprentice skills demonstrated throughout the day. As well as their certificates, children took home two end products - a packaged cupcake surprise with a voucher for a hand manicure to be administered by themselves!
The Eccles based primary was visited by role models from a broad range of career paths and industries throughout the ‘Aspirations Week' kicking off with England International Hockey Player and Commonwealth bronze medallist Charlotte Hartley. Also offering inspiration were a local Councillor, a former midwife awarded an OBE for services to healthcare and nursing, as well a train driver, flight attendant, aircraft engineer and project manager in property development.
All class-work followed the ‘Aspirations' theme and children enjoyed role-play, mock interviews and CV writing, whilst building a ‘Dream Folder' to develop during their time at school.
Commented Barton Moss Headteacher Kelly Morgan: "The week was an incredible success. Our goal was to open the children's minds to the opportunities available to them and to show them anything is possible, whilst helping to build their self confidence and self esteem."
The ‘Aspirations' event culminated in a Dressing Up Day, with children choosing a professional figure or career as inspiration.
Reilly, aged 10, said: "I would like to be a builder so I can carry on the family business and I enjoy building things."
Kai, aged 11, said: "I would like to be an architect because I love drawing buildings."
Mia, aged 4, said: "I would like to be a horse rider because I like ponies."
Oliver, aged 4, said "I want to be a spaceman because I want to go in a rocket."
Ms Morgan added: "Even though many are too young to be certain about their future careers, the idea was to encourage the children to start thinking about the opportunities available to them as they grow older."