The Built Environment Schools Trust has now launched on www.memf.careers new materials that complete the set of teaching resources bringing careers information about the built environment into the classroom through our My Environment My Future schools programme (MEMF). These award winning resources are now available to support teaching from Key Stage 2 in Primary Schools through to A-level.
We know from the Built Environment Schools Trust polls, supported by other research, that only 6% of students would consider a career in the built environment before engaging in our MEMF schools programme. However, after working with MEMF that interest rises to 69%.
Every student from year 5 in Primary school to year 9 in Secondary studies Geography as part of the national curriculum. Using these new, free, editable materials teachers are able to enrich their teaching of Geography and introduce careers within the sector in the classroom.
Terry Watts CEO of the Built Environment Schools Trust states; “MEMF brings a better understanding of the Built Environment into schools transforming the image of the sector for teachers, careers advisors and of course students as well as their parents and carers. It also enables professionals and companies in the sector to go into schools and share their experience of careers in the sector.”
Suzanne Thorne Head of Geography, Dunottar School said of the materials; “Discussing a variety of careers in the built environment and showing pupils how creative and exciting working in this sector can be. Our GCSE uptake has increased from 46% to 59% now that pupils equate geography with a tangible career path for their future.”
Every young person deserves the opportunity to consider a career in the Built Environment. The sector already employs 3.8 million people, between those of us in the sector we can get to every one of the 4178 secondary schools in the UK, and at least make a big dent in the 32,000 primary schools. These materials help teachers make their teaching more relevant to future careers for students. They help teachers meet the Ofsted requirements to deliver careers information in the classroom (ask your school about the Gatsby Objectives). They open the door for us in the sector to introduce the work of the sector and make schools aware of other more specific or in-depth careers experiences and programmes on offer across the country.
MEMF can now reach every school and every young person with news of exciting and rewarding careers most have been unaware of, it enables the start of a conversation that will help ensure a pipeline of the best talent for the sector in years to come.
