Career: Fact or fiction Career: Fact or fiction activity The purpose of this activity is to challenge ideas about the world of work in order to remove barriers and raise aspiration. Introduce the session: In this activity you will explore your views about the world of work by looking at different statements and deciding if you agree or disagree with them to challenge some myths that exist about careers.

Learning intention Success criteria I will explore and challenge my views about the world of work Success criteria I can discuss my views about jobs and learning along with my peers and show respect for other peoples opinions Learning intention and success criteria Go over the learning intention and success criteria with the class. These can be adapted to suit the needs of your learners and can be used as the basis for discussion with pupils. To edit the information on the slide click on the slide and edit the text box.

“People our age can’t start a business!” Example statement Think about reasons why you agree or disagree with this statement and quickly write down your thoughts to share with the class Introduction to preconceptions Use the example in the presentation to introduce the activity and ‘set the boundaries’ with the whole class, e.g. non offensive language, be sensitive to other people’s views, let people finish what they are saying before challenging their point. In pairs, or on their own, pupils should decide whether they agree or disagree with the statement ‘People our age can’t start a business’ and write down at least one reason to support their decision. Use the examples in the following two slides to help them get started if required. Ask pupils to feedback their decision. “People our age can’t start a business!”

“People our age can’t start a business!” AGREE “you would need to have a degree and experience in business management.” Introduction to preconceptions continued Go over the Agree example

“People our age can’t start a business!” DISAGREE “there are people and organisations that can help with starting a business.” Introduction to preconceptions continued Go over the disagree example

IT entrepreneur in Dunoon ‘When I was leaving school, I’d recently set my business up, but I also had a place in St. Andrews University. It was a hard choice to decide whether to go to university or to do the business,’ says Sam ‘In the end I decided to do the business because I enjoyed it and thought I’d regret it if I didn’t.’ Sam has always been an entrepreneur. He set up his first business, an online auction site when he was just 13. He started his current business SAMTEQ, when he was 16. SAMTEQ specialises in interactive touch screens and web development. At the age of 20, his hard work was rewarded with a Prince’s Trust Youth Business Scotland Regional Business Award for Argyll. Sam Coley Introduction to preconceptions continued Use the case study information to highlight how it is possible for young people to start a business. You can find out more about Sam on My World of Work by reading the article or watching a short video https://www.myworldofwork.co.uk/web-development-entrepreneur-sam-coley Alternatively, you could show pupils his business website http://www.samteq.co.uk/

Debate and present Within your group, think about whether you agree or disagree with the statement(s) you are given. Why do you agree or disagree? What evidence can you provide to back up your opinion? Present your argument to the class Career statements and feedback and analysis Now split the class into pairs or small groups and ask the groups to decide whether they agree or disagree with the statement(s) they are given and the reasons why, just like they did in the previous example. They should capture their suggestions using a method which suits the group, e.g. posters, post-it notes, jotters. Groups/pairs should then present back their argument to the whole group and use this as the basis for a class discussion. To generate more group discussion you might wish to ask individuals to choose one statement and come up with a counter idea. During or after the group presentations use the fact sheet to challenge any preconceptions about the world of work.

Next steps If there is time left and you have access to suitable ICT facilities pupils can use My career options in My World of Work to find out more about careers and the different routes to employment. Ask pupils to log in to their computers, open an internet browser and go to myworldofwork.co.uk. They should then select the green tab, ‘My career options’ where they can explore their options. NB. Pupils do not need to be logged in to My World of Work to do this. You may also want to invite guest speakers to talk to pupils at assemblies or in class (you can use Marketplace on My World of Work to organise this). https://www.myworldofwork.co.uk/marketplace Consider completing the Routes to employment activity next to build on the idea that there are lots of different options open to everyone when leaving school. https://www.myworldofwork.co.uk/routes-employment