Anyone who, like me, teaches Year 3 pupils will be well aware that they will do anything to help you - sweep the floor, run errands, clean up the paints or remove staples from walls.
With such an abundance of career choices for these children, including pencil-sharpening monitor, mental maths book giver-outer, book manager, door locker, skipping rope collector, door holder and register deliverer, to name but a few prized and sought-after positions, I decided it would be a good idea to hold interviews for these posts as a citizenship activity.
I prepared the list of positions on the whiteboard, then told the children that I would ask each candidate the same questions:
1. Why should I give you this job?
2. Why do you feel that you are the most suitable candidate for the position?
3. If I offered you the job, what would you bring to the role?
The children then discussed these positions in Class Council and there was a vote. In effect, the pupils could apply for each role, but the class decided - and quite rightly so - that if children applied for everything, “they would not show enough commitment for one particular job”.
A ballot was held and nominations were printed. The class then had a week to think about which candidates they considered most suitable for the posts. Candidates had the opportunity to have work experience at the jobs if they wanted.
On the day of the interviews, the children looked really smart. The shortlist had been printed, the afternoon had been cleared to do the interviews and they all had a question to ask. They asked the questions and then deliberated with their panel. Later on, they announced their choices and there was no moaning or squabbling. I have been racking my brains to think of roles, such as homework sticker-inner, computer logger- onner and sticker-counter.
Robin Warren, key stage 2 co-ordinator, Hargrave Park School, Islington, London
