Inspiring Futures: Croydon School's Dare to Dream Careers Fair

Dare to Dream Week at Chestnut Park Primary

Pupils at Chestnut Park Primary in Croydon had the opportunity to explore diverse career paths during a special Dare to Dream week. The event featured visitors from various professions, such as professional football, British Airways cabin crew, and a music recording technician.

Children were encouraged to think big about their futures and participate in the school’s own Chestnut Park Has Got Talent contest, where the winners were selected by a panel including Julian Drinkall, chief executive of the GLF Schools Multi-Academy Trust.

Inspirational Talks

The event included talks from various guests, including James Nicholson, GLF chief finance officer, who discussed careers in maths, banking, and accountancy. Other notable attendees included Jak Martin from the GLF Foundation and Hannah Varnham from West End Stage Stars, who provide workshops for children to collaborate with professional performers.

Special Recognition

The High Sheriff of London, Millicent Grant, attended the event to present awards to children nominated for special recognition. The event also highlighted the diverse backgrounds of the school’s staff, including a marathon runner, an international cycling athlete, a rapper, and a dancer, who shared their experiences of overcoming barriers to achieve their dreams.

Headteacher Rachel Jacob emphasized the importance of this week in bringing the school’s vision to life: “We wanted to open our children’s eyes to the wider world around them and to know they can be anything they want to be.”

The event allowed children to engage with professionals like a barrister, a dog trainer, a civil engineer, and a music recording technician, broadening their perspectives on potential careers.