Careers Convention @ Shiremoor Primary School...
SUCCESS is assured for the pupils of Shiremoor Primary School following the Careers Convention held there on Friday 5th March.
The convention featured a delegation from GSHS including reporters from the student magazine Evolve. Free copies of back-issues of the award winning magazine were handed out to any budding journalists amongst the pupils.
The convention also featured delegates from across all industries including the RAF, Northumbria Police, Orange, Alnwick Gardens, Procter and Gamble, Tyne Met College and George Stephenson High School.
Practical entertainment took the form of a display from Beamish Museum as well as Tyne & Wear Fire and Rescue Service, who arrived in an Engine in full fire kit. Expert career, advice was on hand from Connexions North East.
The primary school is no stranger to high academic and pastoral achievement having already been awarded the Challenge Award for More Able Pupils, the International School Award, the Basic Skills Award, the Gold Artsmark and the Healthy Schools Award.
Headteacher Helen Clegg-Hood OBE, opened the event by stating her belief that children need to be taught as much as possible, as soon as possible, so they can make more informed life choices.
After a warm welcome from three of her pupils, the event got off to an exciting start, with the RAF stall proving to be a flyaway success.
The children were spellbound as the recruiting sergeant explained to the children that there’s more to the RAF than simply flying planes. “The RAF needs legal eagles, doctors, nurses, engineers,” he explained. The children were each given a sticker showing the RAF’s legendary ‘Pilot’s Wings’ emblem, and asked questions of the sergeant, carefully noting down his responses.
Over by the Beamish Museum stand, children could be observed talking with the delegate dressed in period costume. The students were allowed to try on 19th Century mining hats and observe how we used to live and work.
The children’s obvious interest in furthering their education was demonstrated by the GSHS and Tyne Met stalls rapidly running out of promotional literature! Both pupils and parents were interested in doing more.
The GSHS delegation faced a range of fascinating questions such as: the size of the school, number of PCs available, and what courses were offered. Mrs. Emmerson of GSHS said, “We have been asked about History, Science and Performing Arts.”
Ian Wilkinson, Headteacher at GSHS, whom some of the primary pupils present will get to know better over the coming years, received a welcome from the children that is usually reserved for pop stars!
The pupils of Shiremoor Primary are truly forward thinking and GSHS looks forward to seeing them here one day!
