As part of Ipswich School’s Careers Department offering, Mr Calver and Mrs Hayes are keen to connect current students with former pupils who have studied or worked in areas that they might be interested in pursuing once they leave the school.

As part of this programme, Abbey Garwood (OI 2012-17) met with a Sixth Form student who is interested in a career as a midwife. Since leaving the School, Abbey studied midwifery at the University of Manchester, qualifying last September. She is currently working in a hospital in Harlow, and had just arrived from a night shift!                                                                                                                                                     
The discussion was wide-ranging, covering the application process, the differences between studying midwifery and life as a fully qualified professional, and various other aspects of the job. One of the great strengths of this form of meeting is that OIs are able to speak honestly and openly to current pupils about the positives and negatives of their studies and career paths, due to the more informal nature.

At the end of the discussion, Abbey told me that she was “grateful to have been able to share her experience,” since no one had been able to help her in this way when she was in Year 13. The “eye-opening,” conversation left our pupil inspired and energised to go into midwifery.         
Mrs Hayes is keen to bring in OIs who can be “relatable and honest,” about careers. If you are interested in coming back to the school and supporting the Careers Department in any way, please email the oldipswichians@ipswich.school

Ben Althen, Year 13