Janine
Celebrity TV presenter Christa Ackroyd spearheaded a Career Inspiration Day at Bankside Primary as part of a bid to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs.
At an event that took place last term, former television presenter Christa Ackroyd, along with a diverse group of local professionals, met with Year 6 students to discuss various career paths.
The event provided Year 6 students with a unique opportunity to explore various career paths before their transition to secondary school.
Ackroyd, who is currently working on a new series for Channel 5, was joined by a panel of professionals, which included a police officer, CEO of Harehills-based charity Shantona, a GP, occupational therapist, journalist, and more.
Reflecting on her involvement, Ackroyd said, “It’s good to have time between work commitments to give something back to the community. It’s such a lovely, welcoming school and it was so nice to speak to the children. And who knows, one of them could be follow in my footsteps and one day present ITV’s Calendar or BBC Look North.”
Even though some weeks have passed, the impact of the event remains strong, with students and teachers alike discussing the insights gained.
Headteacher Vicky Broughton said: “My Year 6 are about to go to secondary school and we wanted to take this opportunity to give them a taste of the many different career options that are available for them to pursue. We want our children to aim high, and I hope that this event has inspired them to reach their full potential as they leave Bankside and go to the next step in their education.”
The career day was the first of its kind at Bankside and it allowed students to ask candid questions about the realities of different professions, including the enjoyable aspects and the challenges. Sarah Triner, Head of Year 6, who organised the event, emphasised its lasting importance as the students now prepare for the next stage in their education.
She added: “It’s the first year we’ve held a careers event like this. We wanted to show our children that if you set your mind to it, there are lots of different jobs out there which are rewarding and fulfilling. It was heartwarming that people from so many different professions were prepared to give up their time to help us.”
As the new academic year approaches, the success of this event suggests that it may become a staple in the school’s efforts to broaden students’ horizons and aspirations.
