Following the success of the pilot project ‘Our Future Derby’, the re-branded ‘Our Future’ project is now being extended to primary schools across Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire. The project offers a wonderful opportunity to celebrate what schools and employers are doing together to make a real difference to children’s lives. It aims to inspire pupils and challenge the way they think about the world of work.
Through a series of interactive and engaging career-related learning activities, the project is broadening horizons, breaking down stereotypes, and supporting primary schools during a challenging time to motivate children and help them see the relevance of their learning.
Evaluation
Between November 2021 and July 2022, Dr Deirdre Hughes OBE, Director, dmh associates will lead a research team to evaluate and assess the impact of the project. We will be focusing on the first hand experiences of children, parents, teachers, employers, volunteers and local community groups.
The evaluation and impact assessment will investigate the extent to which the project:
- Increases pupil’s awareness of career/work opportunities
- Increases pupils’ understanding of the link between education, qualifications and work opportunities
- Reduces career/role stereotypes
- Improves future employability skills
- Engages parents, carers and the wider community in career-related learning.
Family Focus Group meetings
The Our Future project is working with over 30 primary schools and 15 multi-academy trusts in Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire. On Wednesday 8 December the project is holding the first of three virtual Family Focus Groups and are inviting parents and carers to learn more about the changing world of work and its relevance to schooling. This is also an opportunity to share your thoughts on how careers are taught in school and how schools can best engage with you on this topic. Our Future are keen for parents and carers to understand the work the project is doing and get a variety of parent voices.
Watch a delivery day in action at Landau Forte Primary School.
Our Future delivers a range of career-related learning activities to inspire children and help them link the learning they do at school to future jobs and careers.
All parents of primary age children are invited, the session is free to attend and it will be held on Wednesday 8 December, 4:30pm-5:30pm.
Please REGISTER HERE and you will receive a zoom link to join on the 8th.
If you are unable to attend but would still love to share your thoughts, you can do this by participating in the survey below. If you would like to be entered into our prize draw to win a £50 Amazon voucher please enter your e-mail address at the end of the survey.
Our Future Parent/Carer Survey
Sign up to be a volunteer
‘Our Future’ is funded by the Department for Education Opportunity Area and delivered by Education and Employers, Learn by Design and dmh Associates. Primary schools involved in the project will have the opportunity to access hundreds of business volunteers from a range of sectors using the Primary Futures programme and due to overwhelming demand the project is seeking volunteers from all walks of live to sign up and get involved.
The project will include the delivery of career-related learning activities, school/MAT support and training, partnerships and twinning to knowledge share with other schools, access to resources & materials and tools to broker parental and family engagement.
Read the Executive Summary from the Our Future Derby project.