Raise your hand if you’re ready to make a difference—because the incredible Year 5 pupils at South Bank Primary sure are! These enthusiastic young trailblazers are fired up after diving into the Power of Women (PoW) Campaign and the Primary School Ambassador Program, passionately exploring the importance of equal opportunities and breaking down gender stereotypes.

The energy was contagious during our sessions, made even more exciting by the return of last year’s Year 6 PoW Ambassadors, who stepped in to guide this new generation of aspiring leaders. Sharing their insights and showing the Year 5s what’s in store for this year’s ambassadors, they truly inspired the group to aim high.

Throughout our sessions, the Year 5 pupils didn’t just share their future dreams—they made it clear they wanted to tackle big issues head-on. They voiced their belief that Teesside shouldn’t carry the label of being the “worst place for young girls to grow up”—a driving force behind the PoW initiative. Our conversations ranged from how we can ensure equal opportunities for all, to exploring the world of sports and the roles of both male and female footballers. The pupils’ passion for challenging stereotypes and changing the narrative was inspiring!

Before wrapping up, we reflected on opportunities throughout our lives and making the most of them, interests and strengths, aligning them with the PoW Ambassador application forms. This powerful self-reflection exercise helped set the foundation for their future roles as advocates for equality.

To add to the excitement, we had the pleasure of hosting Beckii Stevens, People and Resourcing Consultant, and Dave Pickering, Head of Technical Services from Visualsoft, who joined the interview process. Beckii and Dave headed straight to the classroom and spoke to all the Year 5 children about where they worked and introduced themselves, they even had time to take a few questions from the children before beginning the interviews. Our Year 6 ambassadors returned to help with the interview process and coached the Year 5 applicants before their interview.

The Year 5s got a real-world taste of professional interviews, confidently stepping into the room one by one. The decision-making process was far from easy—their application forms were brilliant, and their interviews were nothing short of impressive!

Over the course of two incredible sessions, it was an absolute privilege to collaborate with these South Bank superstars. They’ve shown they’re more than ready to make a difference, and we can’t wait to see how they continue to shine as future leaders.

Go South Bank Primary! The future is in good hands.