'As a rural school, it’s hard to provide students with meaningful encounters with employers and work experience. We have far fewer business connections than a city school and transport is an issue,' says Pippa Hart, Senior Learning Manager and Careers Lead at Fairfield High School in Peterchurch, Herefordshire.
Her position is not unique. The school tries hard to offer wide-ranging careers support to students at all levels, but she believes that in recent years students have 'lacked aspiration'. Often, there is not enough time in careers lessons to explore a wide range of pathways. Parents may unwittingly encourage children into dated career options and ineffectual training routes.
'We’re interested in anything which helps young people to dream and get excited about their future,' Pippa said. 'More potential for playful exploration of career possibilities as early as Year 6 would give students a great start and the best chance of success in the future!'
What does the future hold?
Educators and pupils today face a more rapidly evolving careers list than ever before. Companies that didn’t exist ten years ago are now major recruiters, and rapidly evolving technology means that careers options are in a constant state of flux.It is estimated that 85 percent of key industry roles in 2030 have not yet been invented.