What will you be when you grow up?

By Hannah Richardson
BBC News education reporter

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Pupils from a primary school in Reading give their views on career advice

What do you want to be when you grow up? It's one of the most natural questions adults ask children.

But it seems that in primary schools at least, no one is listening to the answer.

A new government scheme aims to change all that, not just by giving children the chance to experience a whole range of jobs but to raise their aspirations in the process.

Head teacher of Geoffrey Field Junior School in Reading, Charlie Clare, has already taken steps to get his pupils thinking about what careers they would like to follow.

I just want to help people and get lots of money Rimsha, 10

The school held an Inspire week last year in which members of various different professions visited and talked about the jobs that they did.

"We tried to show that life is really exciting and we were trying to motivate them so that they can get to whatever job they want," he said.

And the week certainly seemed to kindle the ambitions of his pupils.

Elizabeth, who is 10, is very clear that she wants to be an accountant.

"Because I am good at maths, I've got a good chance at becoming an accountant but I know I will have to work very hard and my mum has got some practice tests to help me."

Police officer?

And 10-year-old Saida wants to be a newspaper journalist. But does she know what she has to do to get there?

"By doing very well, concentrating in class and making sure that I am really good at English," she answers.

Ten-year-old Lee, was partly inspired by the visit from a policeman and partly inspired by his father, to decide that this is what he wants to be.

"My dad is a police officer in the Metropolitan Police force and I liked the sound of it.

"But the visit showed me what they actually do and what they carry on their belt around their waist."

And he seems to have got a real understanding that policemen do not just drive around in very fast cars.

"They drive around when they are on patrol, but I also heard that their working hours are different nearly every day," he said.

Veterinary nurse?

He and the other children from Geoffrey Field Junior School went on a visit to Reading University to see what it is like.

Lee said he liked the look of it, but added: "I think I am going to have to go to college first and get a good education before I can get there."

Rimsha, 10, is clear that if she is to become the lawyer that she aspires to be, she will have to get good grades in her exams and then get into university.

"I just want to help people and get lots of money," she added.

Next year under the new careers programme, that the school is piloting, pupils will get a more in depth feel for a wider range of different jobs.

They will also spend some more time at the local university and work in teams on a computerised enterprise simulation game.

According to Mr Clare, inspiring children in this way certainly pays dividends in class: "If children are motivated they will work so much harder.".