Discover Your Future: Minehead Middle School's Careers Carousel Inspires Young Minds

A 'Careers Carousel' event was recently held for pupils in years five, six, and seven at Minehead Middle School, encouraging them to think about their futures. Assistant headteacher and careers lead Ruth Bulpin organized the event, building on successful careers initiatives from the previous year. The carousel brought together 15 individuals, organizations, and businesses from Minehead and the wider West Somerset area, providing students with valuable insights into various career paths.

Students were split into their year groups, allowing them to attend five different talks during the session. Some of the jobs showcased included dress making, engineering, and travel, offering a diverse range of options for the young attendees. This hands-on approach enabled students to explore potential careers in an interactive and engaging way.

During the event, students had the opportunity to quiz the presenters, many of whom were parents of pupils at the school. They asked about routes into chosen careers, necessary qualifications, and the likes and dislikes of different jobs. This direct interaction helped demystify the world of work and provided practical advice for future planning.

Beacon Education trustee Fiona Miller, who participated in the session, praised the event, saying: "Congratulations on a stimulating and innovative event. It was an excellent introduction to so many varied careers and opened my eyes to the local opportunities with so many professionals living in the area. The carousel was a very clever concept, and the children were well behaved, engaged, and asked good questions."

Ms. Bulpin added: "It was an exciting morning and wonderful to welcome so many members of our community into the school to support our children's learning experiences to consider their futures and aspiration beyond the classroom."

The presenters included a wide array of professionals, such as self-employed artist Hannah Norman, Butlin’s sports and activities shift manager Demi Millin, police officers Stuart Creech, Mark Middleton-Smith, and Sammie Virgin, Shearwell Data’s Hollie Govier, oil and gas developments mechanical engineer Rick Waite, computing and accountancy exponent Kathryn Young, physics and aerospace engineer Paul Brooks, chemistry and petrochemical manufacturing expert Stephen Colson, telecommunications principal engineer Denys Lyons, travel industry professional Andrew Pearce, air quality consultant Flo Lloyd, fashion designer Stacey Dobbs, Butlin’s recruitment manager Lisa Jefferies, and Football Fun Factory’s Michael Neild. This diverse lineup highlighted the rich career opportunities available locally and inspired students to dream big.