Tomorrow's World

Sustainability Director anyone? Wanted: Wind Turbine Technicians. Job vacant for Cyber Security Specialist. High demand for Medical Roboticists.

The commercial future for the children of today will look very different. Every generation experiences this. Yet I do believe that the speed of change has never been so rapid.

The job of a good school is to prepare children to take their talents into as yet unknown worlds.

How do we do this?

1. Appreciation
We smile at every talent. That’s not just the teachers; in our culture, the pupils themselves appreciate the skills of their peers. This brings out all kinds of abilities because no-one is afraid of “having a go”. Our pupils are appreciated and therefore confident. Nanotechnologist needed? Our girls would simply find the laser tweezers and get on with it – they know they can.

2. Embracing the new
Four years ago, Westholme became the first school in Lancashire to teach Mandarin. Why? The rise of China will undoubtedly be one of the great dramas of the twenty-first century. I would like our girls not only to be able to discuss it, but to actively participate in it.

3. Giving sound, diverse advice
We spend a good deal of time preparing our careers fairs and bring in representatives from both traditional and new professions to talk to our children. Exposure to the width and depth of the world’s opportunities is a key part of the learning process.

So you might not be thinking of becoming a Space Tour Guide, but if you’re not part of Tomorrow’s World, are you Yesterday’s News? Perhaps the principles of appreciation, embracing the new and giving good advice to your employees are sound principles for continuous development in both education and business.

Lillian Croston, principal, Westholme School.

Westholme welcomes support from experts in all industries. Our next Careers Fair takes place on Tuesday 27th April 7pm – 9pm.