The Chair of the Bar Council taught children how to disagree agreeably as she returned to her former primary school.
Kirsty Brimelow KC visited Whittle-le-Woods Church of England Primary School in Chorley, Lancashire on 12 June.
While revisiting her former school, she joined Year 6 teacher Tracey Holmes to deliver a lesson from the Bar Council’s Speak for Success resources.
During the two-hour lesson Kirsty told pupils about some of her experiences as a barrister, her time at the school, and how she uses oracy skills in her day-to-day life.
Speak for Success is a set of free teaching resources created by the Bar Council – the profession body for the 18,000 barristers in England and Wales – and designed with teachers and barristers in partnership with the 4 Inns of Court. The resources are designed to empower young people (aged 7-11) with essential oracy skills and confidence, preparing them to excel in any career path, including law. All lessons are aligned with the curriculum in England and Wales.
Tracey and Kirsty delivered the introduction and the lesson titled ‘I couldn’t disagree more’, all about respectfully and politely disagreeing with people.
Kirsty also answered questions from pupils about her work and brought along a wig and gown for the children to try on for themselves.
Tracey said: “Having Kirsty involved in the lessons was invaluable, as she was able to bring an additional level of professional expertise and real-world insight to the learning experience.
“The content was well suited to this age group, with adaptations being made to meet the specific needs of my pupils, increasing engagement and providing further opportunities to develop their oracy skills.
“I would highly recommend these materials for use with any Key Stage 2 class, particularly for schools looking to enhance pupils’ understanding of the role of a barrister while simultaneously developing their confidence and competence in spoken communication.”
Kirsty hopes her visit to her former primary school will encourage other barristers to share the Speak for Success resources with their own local schools.
Kirsty Brimelow KC, Chair of the Bar Council, said: “I had a fantastic time revisiting my old primary school in Chorley. It was a trip down memory lane, particularly as half the children in the class were on their way to the Balshaw’s High School, the high school that I attended.
“I was really impressed with how engaged the children were with the Speak for Success lessons. Of course, they asked the best questions, and I hope that they went home with even bigger dreams.
“My parents left school and started work at 15. I know well the socio-economic barriers to a career at the Bar and my focus remains on social mobility.
“Speak for Success introduces primary school pupils to the profession of a barrister, as well as to the importance of communication skills.
“I’m calling upon all barristers to share Speak for Success resources with local state primary schools, to help bring this wonderful career to life and to inspire our future generations of barristers. The Bar should be accessible to all."