A primary school in Brentwood has been recognised as one of the best in Essex for its work in educating children about future career paths. The annual Healthy Schools Festival, held at the Brentwood Centre, celebrates school achievements in health and wellbeing. The event features workshops on nutrition, mental health, and physical activity, along with an awards ceremony. Schools from across Essex are judged in five categories.
Hogarth Primary School's Achievement
This year, Hogarth Primary School received a Best Practice Award in the category focusing on personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education. The award follows the school's dedicated Aspirations Week, which aimed to encourage children's future career aspirations. During the week, professionals were invited to speak about their careers, and pupils dressed up as the job roles they would like to pursue when older.
Deputy Headteacher's Reaction
Deputy headteacher Lauren King expressed her delight at the recognition. "The Healthy Schools Festival is a fantastic event that we attend each year. It provides a great opportunity for our pupils to try foods, play games, collect stamps, and take part in activities and crafts, such as making photo frames," she said. "It was really lovely to be recognised for our work on Aspirations Week. When we surveyed our pupils after the week, 90% said they had been exposed to different career options they were previously unaware of."
King added, "The judges were blown away by everything we did for our pupils that week. To receive this recognition throughout Essex for what we do really well as a school, celebrating that was really positive. The children were thrilled and felt really proud of what they had achieved."
Impact on Pupils
The Aspirations Week has had a significant impact on students, broadening their horizons and introducing them to a wide range of career possibilities. The school's commitment to PSHE education has been praised, and the award highlights the importance of career education at a young age. The Healthy Schools Festival continues to promote health and wellbeing across Essex schools, with Hogarth Primary School setting an example in career-focused learning.
