A caterer, an actress and an accountant were among professionals going back to their old school to inspire the current generation to academic success and career confidence under a scheme setting up ‘old school tie’ networks in state schools and colleges.
Sixteen alumni returned to Parliament Hill School, Highgate Road, London, part of the LaSWAP sixth form consortium, under the initiative run by the education charity Future First to encourage state student social mobility by enabling schools to harness the talent and expertise of former students.
Future First works in more than 400 state schools and colleges across Britain linking schools with their former students who act as career and education role models, mentors, work experience providers, governors, fundraisers and donors.
Three alumni, a legal secretary, a sales optimisation manager at a travel company and a management consultancy analyst, returned under the City of London Corporation funded “Inspiring City Role Models” scheme intended to create a talent pipeline into City jobs in which workers from the Square Mile return to their old state school in City fringe boroughs.
Teacher Nicky King said, “We’re always looking for links with industry and this is such a great way of building confidence.”
Picture caption: LaSWAP alumni, back row left to right: Andrea-Jane Morris, Valerie Yuskevych, Tim Sowula, Marcus Bonfanti, Francesca Francois, Georgina Donati, Sia Bockarie. Front row: Luisa Guerreiro.
