WIREDGOV

The Chief Medical Officer and a range of healthcare professionals visited a Cardiff primary school this week to inspire children to think about a career in healthcare as part of the Primary Futures ‘Who’s in Health?’ campaign.

Occupational therapist Sally Feyi-Waboso, Shaffi Batchelor, Cardiff University medical student, Professor Dave Wilson, Cardiff University’s Chair of Admissions and Professor John Bligh, Cardiff University Dean of Medicine joined the Chief Medical Officer at Tredegarville C.I.W. Primary School in Cardiff.  

They talked to the year 4 class of seven and eight year olds about their jobs and gave examples of how they use literacy and numeracy in their careers.

Chief Medical Officer Dr Ruth Hussey said:

“Little did I know when I grew up in a farming family in north Wales, attending the local school, that one day I would be the Chief Medical Officer for Wales.  This is a great way to inspire Welsh children, for them to see the relevance of what they are studying now to what they could become in the future.  

“I hope we can inspire Tredegarville pupils and pupils all across Wales.”

Professor John Bligh, Dean of Medicine at Cardiff University says:

“Being a doctor is one of the most rewarding and stimulating careers there is but it is often seen as unattainable by young people because of their background.

“The Primary Futures project is about changing that idea so that young people can see that ability and desire are the most important things that matter when thinking about a career in medicine or in any profession.

“Wales needs good doctors for the future and Tredegarville C.I.W. Primary School in Cardiff, its staff, and its students are to be congratulated on how enthusiastically they have embraced this project. We wish them well with their aim of helping their students see how important maths, science and language are to their future careers.”

Emma Laing, Headteacher at Tredegarville C.I.W Primary School said recently:

“Primary Futures is really important to our school. It is a great way of getting our children thinking about possible futures, of raising aspirations and broadening horizons. It is about helping them to make connections between their learning in school and the world of work but it is also about getting them to look out of their immediate context and out to the wider world. As well as people from different professions we also introduce them to people who volunteer and serve their communities in inspiring ways.

"We are particularly pleased this year to be welcoming visitors from the medical profession to the school. This will enable children to explore the range of work opportunities in medicine. What better way to widen participation in the future medical profession than to start talking to primary school children today?”