CHILDREN are already held back by gender stereotypes over possible careers when they are just six years old, research revealed today.

The Careers & Enterprise Company (CEC) said its three-year study among almost 1,400 primary schools had challenged stereotypes and given pupils the confidence to see themselves in careers they might never have imagined.

The project tested the impact of career-related learning in primary schools, involving almost 200,000 pupils who took part in events including workplace visits and career talks.

The CEC said the result had broadened children’s career choices, including an increase in girls’ aspirations in business and finance.

James Toop, chief executive of the Teach First charity, said: “This pilot has opened children’s eyes at an early age to possibilities they may never have imagined, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

“It’s a powerful example of how the right support and training can equip teachers to unlock potential early in a child’s development.”

The report said that by the age of six, children were already held back by gender stereotypes when it came to career awareness, but after the pilot scheme, three out of four teachers observed that pupils were less constrained by gender stereotypes.