ISLAND PUPILS BECOME CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATORS AT FESTIVAL OF CRIMINOLOGY

More than 200 Isle of Wight primary school pupils swapped the classroom for the crime scene as they took part in a pioneering Festival of Criminology designed to inspire the next generation of forensic scientists, investigators and justice professionals.

Around 210 Year 6 pupils from 4 Island primary schools attended the Isle of Wight Primaries Festival of Criminology – a pilot initiative led by the University of Portsmouth’s School of Criminology in partnership with the Isle of Wight Youth Justice Service.

The event was created to introduce young people to the wide range of careers available within the criminal justice sector, while challenging stereotypes and encouraging them to consider roles they may never have previously thought about.

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During the day, pupils became crime scene investigators as they tackled a hands-on forensic challenge led by academics from the University of Portsmouth.

Working from a case file, teams had 20 minutes to examine a specially created crime scene, gather evidence and answer questions about the incident. They also produced sketches of the scene before presenting their findings.

A second workshop, delivered by the Isle of Wight Youth Justice Service, focused on careers across the criminal justice system, introducing pupils to roles including probation officers, youth justice practitioners, investigators and forensic specialists, as well as the skills needed to succeed in those professions.

Ekine Fernandez, Enterprise and Skills Executive for Education and Post-16 Participation at The Solent Careers Hub said:

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“The Isle of Wight Primaries Festival of Criminology has been a fantastic opportunity to open young people’s eyes to the wide range of careers available within the criminal justice sector.

“At primary school age, many children are only aware of a limited number of jobs, so giving them the chance to explore real-life roles such as forensic investigators, probation officers and youth justice professionals helps broaden their horizons and challenge stereotypes.

“We hope the experience has inspired pupils to think differently about their future and recognise that there are many exciting pathways available to them both locally and nationally.”

Councillor Ros Freeman, Chair of the Isle of Wight Council’s Children’s Services, Education and Skills Committee said:

“This is a great opportunity for children and young people. By introducing primary-aged pupils to careers they may never have previously considered – including forensic science, youth justice and investigative roles – we can help raise aspirations from an early age.

“It also supports the growing emphasis on careers education in primary schools, helping children make clear links between what they learn in the classroom and the opportunities available to them in the future. Who knows – we may even be inspiring some of the detectives of tomorrow.”

The initiative builds on research highlighting the benefits of introducing careers education at primary school age, helping children broaden their understanding of the world of work and challenging career stereotypes from an early age.

Organisers say criminal justice was chosen as the focus because HMP Isle of Wight and the Isle of Wight Council are among the Island’s largest employers, making the sector particularly relevant to local young people.

The Festival of Criminology was developed as a pilot project by the University of Portsmouth, which stages a larger Festival of Crime event in Portsmouth every 2 years. The Isle of Wight event also served as a thank you to local primary schools that host university teacher-training placements.