Pupils swap uniforms for outfits of future careers

The school held its annual careers week and head teacher Vanessa Vaughan said the event grew bigger and better every year.

As well as dressing up, the children visited Leeds and Sheffield Universities to get a glimpse of higher education.

They also welcomed and quizzed visitors from many different professions, like engineers, vets and beauty therapists, to find out more about jobs that interested them — but first up to talk to the children was me.

I was invited to join the school’s morning assembly to talk about a career in journalism and answer questions.

It may have been wet and windy outside, but inside the school hall was awash with colourful outfits and beaming smiles.

I was wowed by all the thought and effort the pupils, and teachers, had put into their costumes.

Vanessa, who was dressed as an army cadet, said the school was keen for the children to know they can be anything they want to be and go anywhere they want to, if they set their mind to it.

The youngsters had lots of questions for me, including: “How do you find stories?”, “what hours do you work”, “how long does it take to put a newspaper together?” and “Do you ever get told off?”

They were all very attentive and some already knew the most important areas that should be covered in a story — who, what, where, when, why and how.

Classes were also mixed up for the week and pupils from all school years worked together in smaller groups to concentrate on their ideal career.

I joined the budding journalists for their first “editorial meeting” as they prepared to put together a school newspaper that would come out at the end of their special week.

I talked to the team about the different aspects of an article, like headlines and introductions, and the different newsroom roles they could get involved in, such as photographer or news editor.

I demonstrated shorthand and explained why it was such an important tool for journalists.

The youngsters were baffled by it — much like I was by the classroom’s touchscreen whiteboard.

Schools have changed a lot since I was there and I wished I had been part of such an inspiring week when I was young. I’m sure the children’s horizons have been hugely broadened.

Are you ready, world? Dinnington Community Primary School is coming to get you.