What is Primary Futures?
Primary Futures is a simple and effective way to link learning to the wider world. Developed with teachers, it connects primary schools with diverse workplace volunteers to take part in interactive and engaging activities and be quizzed by children about their jobs.
careers
Why talking about a range of jobs at primary-age matters
Children form stereotypes about occupations, careers and pathways from the age of six.(1)
Our Starting Early report shows:
- Starting aspirations learning at primary-age is key to social mobility
- Meeting real-life role models from the world of work increases motivation to learn
- It also challenges stereotypes, particularly around gender and ethnicity
- Disadvantaged children often benefit the most from these activities
As well as boosting children’s subject learning and essential soft skills, aspirations activities can also help support wider school improvement goals and respond to pupil needs.These might include supporting pupil premium strategies, tackling underachievement, and linking learning to the curriculum in meaningful ways.
children
What do children think?
What do I get with Primary Futures?
With a strong evidence base developed through working with schools across the country, Primary Futures is free and open to all state schools.
Just sign up or log in to:
- Use our self-service platform to create your activity – however big or small you like.
- Search for your ideal volunteers – from different jobs, sectors and career routes in.
- Contact volunteers directly and invite them to your school either in-person or virtually.
- Access short, pre-recorded videos from volunteers in various roles for use in the classroom. Topics include gender stereotypes, TV and tech, and jobs in the NHS amongst many others.
- Download lesson resources to plan your own activities or to work with initiatives like World Book Day or Science Week. Also see how to connect curriculum topics like civil rights and polar exploration to the workplace.
- Gain tailored support to help you use the platform and plan your sessions. We also offer access to live interactive training for teachers covering best practice, use of the platform, creative ideas and a chance to ask questions.
Offsted were really impressed with the way children could talk about the next stage of their learning and how this fits into future careers.
John Snell, Headteacher
Welton Primary School, Somerset
help
We’re here to help
We are a small, friendly team and are here to help. You can get in touch with us in lots of different ways:
- Call us on 0207 566 4880
- Email us enquiries@inspiringthefuture.org
- Book a short planning call with Davina using our online calendar
- Or join one of our webinars to find out how to get started or for specialist topics such as how to embed career-related learning in the curriculum and link to subject topics
Primary Futures is run in partnership with the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) and the Education and Employers charity, and is part of Inspiring the Future.
Safeguarding
We are committed to providing safe and supportive environments for everyone involved in our organisation and the work we do. See more about Safeguarding.
(1) Starting Early: Building the foundations for success
Resources and guides
Access our wide range of free resources to help you plan activities with volunteers.
Primary Futures in action
Our Primary Futures community is keen to share their stories and top tips. Discover how volunteers, schools, partners and pupils have engaged with our programmes and the impact they have made together.
