Schools Minister Nick Gibb and former Labour leader Ed Miliband have returned to their old state schools as part of a nationwide campaign to inspire state school students to academic success and career confidence.
Mr Gibb returned to Roundhay School in Leeds as part of Back to School Week, Feb 1st to 5th, run by the leading education charity Future First. During the week, state school alumni across Britain - lawyers to doctors, plumbers to caterers, architects to zookeepers - have returned to their former state school for assemblies and workshops designed to help prepare current students for the working world.
Mr Gibb toured the school, sat in on a politics lesson and was shown the admissions book he signed when he joined the school.
He said, “I am delighted to support Future First’s Back to School Week this year, and I’m looking forward to returning to my old school, Roundhay, to see how it continues to support its pupils, both past and present. We owe it to young people to ensure that on top of an excellent education, they acquire the resilience and moral character needed to succeed in the world of work. Future First is playing an important part in instilling these traits, by creating a network of alumni who can be called upon to support future generation of students, giving them the edge in a competitive global jobs market.”
Mr Miliband went back to Haverstock School in Chalk Farm, London, which he left in 1981, to talk to Year 7 students about his career path, life as a politician and about the skills necessary to succeed in work.
Mr Miliband said, “It’s great to be back at my old school, Haverstock, that taught me so much. I am also pleased to be party of the excellent work Future First do in helping schools to raise ambitions and achievement through alumni networks.”
