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Pupils take on 'jobs' to help their future careers

BBC Four primary school children stand around a table playing with lego.BBC
The roles include play leaders, IT technicians and a sports captain

Pupils at a Swindon Primary School are being given real life "roles" which staff hope will help them in their future careers.

Leaders at Rodbourne Cheney Primary School in Swindon introduced the idea following lockdown and said it had helped with attendance and the pupils' skills.

The roles are assigned to 10 and 11 year olds who are appointed as play leaders, IT technicians and sports captain, but some pupils in reception have also been given roles after demonstrating exceptional behaviour.

Ofsted gave the school an "outstanding" rating in its 2023 inspection.

Easton sits in front of a display board at his school and smiles at the camera.
Head boy Easton says it is important for him to set a good example to his younger peers

"For my job, I have to look after the school," said Easton, who is head boy.

"Since Key Stage 1 are looking up to me, I have to be responsible for that and I have to make sure I am a good person for my school."

Easton is in a Year six class with Alex, who is the school's computing lead.

"I hand out all the iPads, and also, if someone's iPad does not have internet, I like to go to them and put it on the internet," said Alex.

Two football shirts laid out on a table beside two football team contracts. Each contract has a pen placed on top.
The sports captain is responsible for signing contracts for the school's football team

Alex said his role involved signing contracts for the school's football team and coaching.

"When I'm a sports captain in PE lessons, our teachers sets us into groups and I almost lead a group and almost teach," he said.

Pupils also get the chance to perform on stage at Swindon's Wyvern theatre.

Eva, a dance captain for the elite team, said she had also started a dance club with some friends during Tuesday breaktimes.

"We put together dance routines for other children," she said.

Eva stands in the school hall and smiles at the camera. She has long blonde hair which is tied back.
Dance captain Eva runs a dance club on Tuesday breaktimes

Mason is play lead and runs clubs for younger children. He is planning to organise a whole school day of Lego.

"It's really exciting. It feels like I'm now kind of a teacher," he said.

Although it is just for fun, Lisa Davies, executive headteacher at White Horse Federation, said it has made a difference to the pupils' education.

"It's given a great sense of belonging, a sense of community and a pride in the school, which is really important," she said.

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