Steps I Take, Marks I Make – The Primary Careers Conference by Bavaani Nanthabalan
The Primary Careers Conference is in its third year and shares its vision with the borough of Camden: to ensure every child and young person has a chance to succeed and nobody gets left behind.
If children at an early age connect the skills, values and subjects learnt at school to future careers, we believe they will become more engaged and excited by their education. The Primary Careers Conference gives selected 9-10 year old ‘Career Champions’ from 24 Camden and Islington primary schools, the opportunity to gain an insight into a range of different jobs through talks, workshops and presentations. Over 400 children have already heard from diverse groups of professionals such as scientists, social entrepreneurs, videogame designers, explorers and more. The conference has enabled the children to see that anything is possible.
The success of the last two years has been overwhelming; in particular for children from disadvantaged backgrounds leaving the event filled with new career possibilities and inspired to organise careers events for their peers in their schools. As one champion said, “I want to be a footballer or a basketball player but if I can’t be both of those then I want to be a structural engineer”. And we certainly need more engineers!
This year’s collaboration with the Knowledge Quarter will give children from two boroughs access to new knowledge about dynamic and exciting careers right on their doorstep. We have already got a host of KQ partners on board for this year’s event including The Francis Crick Institute, The Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining, CILIP, The Guardian, Crafts Council and London Metropolitan Archives. This is a fantastic opportunity for our partners to help build a fruitful relationship between KQ professionals and young people, enabling and bettering their futures.
Please do join us at this inspiring event on 25th April between 9.30am and 3.30pm at the British Library Conference Centre.
Bavaani Nanthabalan
Executive Headteacher
Netley Primary School
