On Wednesday 23 September, we welcomed an inspiring group of alumni, parents, professionals, entrepreneurs and industry leaders to Alleyn’s for our Festival of Inspiration, marking 50 years of co-education.
The day was designed to give pupils a taste of the many opportunities and career paths open to them beyond school. More than 800 pupils from Years 9–13 each attended a Spark Speaker talk, hearing from George Imafidon MBE, award-winning humanitarian engineer and CEO of Motivez, or Laura-Jane Silverman MBE, Head and Co-founder of LSE Generate.
Pupils then took part in one of 24 hands-on experiential workshops, tackling real-world challenges alongside professionals. From building brands and designing energy-efficient products to exploring law, technology, sustainability, social impact and the creative industries, there was plenty to get involved in.
It was also fantastic to welcome several Alleyn’s alumni back to school to share their experiences. Biz Brierley (Cribb’s 2019), Marketing Manager at Blank Street, led a workshop on building brands, while Julia Elkouby (Tyson’s 2015), Senior Data Assurance Manager at Green Project Technologies, ran a workshop exploring her field. Natalie Falshaw (Spurgeon’s 2017), co-founder of Nutrigirls, joined the Quad Fair, while Holly Sleep (Roper’s 2017), Associate at Sheridans, took part in an interactive session exploring legal issues in gaming, music and sport, as well as the Quad Fair.
The day finished with a lively Quad Fair, pupils had the opportunity to meet approximately 25 professionals from more than 17 organisations, ask questions and find out more about different industries and career paths. The fair also featured a Year 9 pupil DJ, who kept the atmosphere buzzing throughout the afternoon.
Behind the scenes, more than 65 members of staff helped to make the day possible, supporting pupils and coordinating the many activities taking place across the school.
There was a real buzz around school throughout the day, with pupils getting involved, sharing ideas and discovering opportunities they may not have considered before. The Festival was a fitting celebration of 50 years of co-education and of the value of bringing people together to share ideas, broaden horizons and inspire the next generation.
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Last updated on 01 09 26 at 09:44
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