Pupils Get a Taste of the Future During Coventry Primary Aspirations Week 2025
During National Careers Week (3rd-7th March 2025), over 4,000 Coventry primary pupils took part in a citywide celebration of curiosity, ambition, and future potential - all as part of Coventry Primary Aspirations Week.
Bringing together schools and the world of work, the week offered a vibrant programme of hands-on sessions, workshops, and online experiences to help children explore the range of careers and futures available to them.
The event proudly supports the Child Friendly Coventry 'Have Opportunities' pledge - making sure that all children and young people in Coventry:
Are aware of and have access to training, employment, and apprenticeships
Know about local activities and opportunities
Can access spaces and resources that support learning, fun and inspiration
This year saw more events than ever before, with activities running every morning and afternoon throughout the week. The aim? To broaden horizons and help children see how what they learn in school connects to real-world possibilities.
Two Styles of Events: One Shared Goal
Two main event types were used to bring Aspirations Week to life:
Special Events - Individual businesses or organisations hosted sessions either in schools or at their own venues, often delivering multiple workshops to reach more children throughout the day
Rotation Events - Four businesses or organisations visited one host school to run interactive sessions with small groups of children from across the city
Who Got Involved?
1400+ pupils took part in face-to-face sessions across the city
Nearly 3000 more engaged through online activities
33 schools participated, with 13 stepping up as hosts
26 businesses and organisations volunteered their time and expertise
Real-World Inspiration from Real-Life People
Children met professionals from all walks of life - engineers, artists, emergency service staff, IT specialists, designers, and more. Contributors included:
NHS Coventry and Warwickshire, Jaguar Land Rover, West Midlands Fire Service, E.ON, Sky Blues in the Community, Tech She Can, Coventry Building Society, and many others
One teacher noted: “JLR - it was great seeing men in design roles and women in engineering. It really gave pupils the message that gender shouldn't limit their future. A very positive experience for all involved.”
Another said: “The children gained so much - they were inspired, engaged, and excited. Events like this give real meaning to their learning.”
Impact: Big Numbers, Even Bigger Smiles
Survey responses from schools highlight just how impactful the week was:
5.00 - average rating for “Hosting an event was a positive experience for our school”
4.79 - “The children really enjoyed themselves”
4.71 - “We want to be involved in similar events in future”
Other feedback praised the interactive sessions, inspiring volunteers, and the way sessions were tailored to different age groups and needs.
What’s Next?
With such a strong appetite from both schools and organisations, the Coventry Primary Aspirations Steering Group is already looking ahead. Key future priorities include:
Sharing great practice between schools
Increasing the frequency of similar events
Strengthening and expanding school-business partnerships
Aspirations Week 2025 has shown what’s possible when a city works together to inspire its youngest citizens.
By giving children and families a clear window into the world of work - and the confidence to see themselves in it - Coventry continues to lead the way in creating a truly Child Friendly City.