Professionals were put in the hot seat by primary children at a careers day designed to boost aspiration.

Workers from across Weymouth and Portland took part in speed networking sessions with year six students from Radipole Primary School to teach them about their jobs.

Teacher, Sally House said the idea behind the careers day was to raise aspirations among pupils.

“It’s been in the press lately that one of the worst places to grow up in terms of social mobility is Weymouth and Portland. I thought we need to do something to make sure our children have aspirations,” she said.

Pupils got 15 minutes with each professionals to chat informally and ask questions about their day-to-day life on the job.

Professionals included firefighters from Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue, a midwife, a solicitor from Pengillys, a team from Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Radipole’s head teacher and even a reporter from the Dorset Echo.

“We want them to know what’s out there in the local area. A lot of them see tourism but don’t necessarily know what other jobs are out there.”

Before the networking event, the children spent the morning talking about their aspirations and how these may change at different stages of their life – from birth to retirement.

“We want them to be thinking about the future,” she said. “They need to have a better understanding of their opportunities and an understanding that there are so many different career paths they can take.”

Mrs House added the school had also opened a school shop which was run and managed by thirty pupils from stock-taking to balancing the books.

After the event, Mrs House said the children had come away from the afternoon ‘really enthused by all that had shared with them.’

“I really hope that days like this help to inspire the children and raise their aspirations for their future,” she said.