Careers Education
We have always been keen at CPA to introduce children to Career’s
Education as early as possible. We want to open their eyes to the world of
work and the vast range of careers and vocation possibilities. We find that
many of our children have a very limited notion possible of job roles and we
are keen to share a range of career options with them to inspire their thinking
and raise their aspirations.
As studies have shown, holding biased assumptions and having narrow
aspirations can influence the academic effort children exert in certain lessons,
the subjects they choose to study, and the jobs they end up pursuing. Research
has also shown that the jobs children aspire to may be ones that their parents
do, or those of their parents’ friends, or that they see on the TV and/or social
media. Low expectations are often shaped by biases or commonly accepted
stereotypes, such as ‘science isn’t for girls’ or ‘university isn’t for the working
classes’. These societal expectations act to restrict children’s futures by limiting
what they believe they can do.
We ensure that through assemblies, led either by the Principal or
including a guest speaker, children are made aware of the range of
opportunities open to them. We also have a Careers corridor with an alumni
board and posters linking curriculum subject to possible career options. We
also work hard, learning from the research, to erase stereotypical views which
may be linked to career options, especially but not solely around Science. We
deliberately showcase female examples and role models from a wide range of
ethnic backgrounds.