Children’s College launched to inspire young people to dream big in Gateshead

Primary schools and pupils across Gateshead are being encouraged to get involved with a new programme that aims to raise career aspirations among young people.

The Children’s College has been established by Gateshead College to bring together the wide range of activities it runs in partnership with local primary schools. This includes career inspiration, coding clubs, science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) sessions, cookery workshops and sports coaching.

The activities support teachers in raising ambitions among their pupils and encourage them to think about the varied career options available to them in later life.

As well as helping and inspiring school children, the programme will provide Gateshead College students with invaluable work experience to gain real world skills by sharing their knowledge with younger people, to progress their education beyond school making them better prepared for employment.

Judith Doyle CBE, principal and CEO at Gateshead College, said: “We have always been proud of our role as a community college, passionate about the young people in our area and keen to invest in them to ensure they realise their dreams and hopes for their future.

“We have excellent facilities, resources and employer networks that we want to share with schools. It is all about broadening horizons and expanding knowledge about the wide and varied career opportunities that will be available to them.

“Through supporting local schools, we aim to help young children dream big at an early age, to properly understand the opportunities and the careers they could create for themselves and get them excited about their future.”

The Children’s College will play a key role in helping young people navigate through their future career in an informed way. This complements the work of schoolteachers and their focus on inspiring pupils to set their goals high.

For college students, the scheme will help to develop the kind of skills, confidence and experience needed to be better prepared for work; giving them a valuable insight into one of the region’s biggest employers, the education sector, allowing them to hone their public speaking, organisation and team work skills.

Jacqui Kevan, Deputy Headteacher at Brighton Avenue Primary School, said: “The Children’s College provides an amazing opportunity for our pupils to learn more about different career paths at the next stage of their education. It’s a fantastic initiative that is an important part of our curriculum; both the staff, Governors and pupils thoroughly enjoy the interactive sessions. 

“We really appreciate the investment that Gateshead College is making in helping primary schools to inspire young people and know that Brighton Avenue Primary School is also dedicated to develop pupils’ achievement in STEAM subjects and careers. This partnership supports our school vision to encourage our pupils to believe in themselves so that they can fulfil their potential; it’s exciting to be involved.”

Gateshead College is the number one college in the country for student achievement and is rated outstanding by Ofsted.