Northern Star Academies Trust: Green Futures Showcase
Northern Star Academies Trust (NSAT) and SkillsHouse Careers and Technical Education Team held the first ever Green Futures Showcase event at Skipton Girls’ High School on 8 July 2024. Year 5 students travelled from across Bradford and Keighley from several NSAT schools:
- Byron Primary School
- Denholme Primary School
- Eastwood Community School
- Lapage Primary School
- Meadow Bank Community School
- Parkwood Primary School
- Victoria Primary School
The aim of the event was to showcase green careers and job roles within different industry sectors and raise awareness to young people about the effects of climate change, carbon footprint and how employers are making progress to become net zero. Alexandra Brightman (Net Zero Educator – Northern Gas Networks) explained how the day “provided an opportunity for local businesses to inspire children to become more sustainable and consider how different careers are becoming more sustainable. It allows students to come to the realisation that there is so much more to sustainability, than recycling or walking to school”.
During the daylong event, learners attended workshops delivered by industry experts linked to a green rail network, they learnt about sustainable farming and building and put their learning into practice with an Escape Room Challenge and the students even produced their own hydrogen! Karen Bennett (Community Rail Education Development Officer at Community Rail Lancashire) revealed that it was “great to have the opportunity to showcase careers in the railway industry and discuss why this mode of transport is the greenest form after walking and cycling”. Prior knowledge about climate change and sustainability was evident from so many young people and it was great to see employers embedding and building on this curriculum knowledge in their practical sessions".
After the workshops, learners attended a panel made up of employees from Northern Gas Networks, Community Rail Lancashire and United Nations. Students were given the opportunity to ask the panel meaningful questions to help them understand different job roles and professions and what a particular career journey might look like. “It was fantastic to see the children asking questions around the green agenda and also around the skills needed to get into jobs in the industries represented”, explained Mark Whittaker (Head of Academy at Eastwood Community School and one of two leaders for the Green Futures Showcase)".
A wonderful event that brought to life geography, science and sustainability matters and related them to careers in a variety of industries. As described by Aliza Ayaz, (United Nations Goodwill Ambassador, United Nations) “the collaborative atmosphere and the wealth of information exchanged [made] it a truly enriching experience.”