Spark spent a fabulous day supporting part of Thorntree Academy’s ‘Aspirations’ week. Working with three year groups we introduced children to different sectors that they could work in when they are older. Due to geography, the ‘medical sector’ and ‘construction’ were two obvious targets and we worked with the children to explore what they already knew but also what the possibilities are. In many ways we don’t consider these ‘aspiration’ days, they are much more about making children aware of what is possible for them in a way that relates to their own experience. We focus on skills they already have, things they already know – interests that they can pursue. Rarely do we talk about routes (although apprenticeships always gets a bit of attention!) or pay. We focus on what children might like to do based on what interests them now.
Engaging days like these allow children to reflect on their own sense of self, of agency and relate it to what is out there. Thorntree have also had funding from the Tees Valley Combined Authority to access Spark in all classes for a year. This will allow teachers to build this way of working into any lesson, any day – not just as a one off week.
What children are learning in class should be offering them glimpses of what they might need to know and be able to do in their futures – if it isn’t, why are we teaching it? Days like these give that thought process a focus but year round resources allow the school to change their culture of relating their curriculum to the wider world.
Some pics from the day!
