INSPIRING the Future is the job of teachers around the world and at Cowling Primary teachers have joined forces with business experts to help pupils discover opportunities beyond their school gate.

The Gill Lane school has recently welcomed Dr Peter Colman, a London-based global business consultant, former lawyer Ian McIntosh, Gillian Lancaster, managing director of the Bank of America and author Katie Daynes.

All the speakers gave presentations to junior pupils telling them about their work and providing the opportunity for the children to ask questions.

Headteacher Sue Marshall said: “The pupils were interested in the fact that these people’s jobs took them all over the world, travelling to places such as Singapore and New York. Mrs Lancaster told us she deals in billions of dollars every day and pupils were fascinated to hear about the bank’s secret vaults.

“The Inspiring the Future initiative provides pupils with an insight into the world of work and we are very grateful to our visitors who have so generously given of their time. All our visitors have advised the children to think about the type of work they may enjoy, whether that’s working with others or more independently, working outdoors or in an office environment.

"We hope the visits will provide our pupils with an insight into a range of occupations and inspires them to work hard to achieve their goals.”

The Inspiring the Future campaign encourages members of both the public and private sectors to visit schools and provide pupils with an insight into the world of work.

Education Secretary Nicky Morgan recently urged all schools to join the initiative, saying: “We want schools to connect with industry and the business community in order to inspire children to consider the vast array of different opportunities available to them.

“Getting people from different types of jobs into school will help to show children what they could achieve. It is exciting to see schools taking the initiative in this way."