World of Work Day at Woodford

On a Monday in mid-July Woodford students dressed not for school but for a professional work place.  The timetable was suspended and 26 former students returned for the day to run activities and challenges connected with their jobs. All students registering for the Careers Conference in the Sports Hall received a  bright coloured conference bag filled with gifts donated by the school’s suppliers.  Alumni spoke to them not only about their working lives but about their career paths to date, about opportunities and challenges and about maintaining a work / life balance.  Students also participated in two of eight work place scenarios, designing advertisements, tackling international development problems, fulfilling photography assignments and so forth.  In a plenary assembly at the end of the day girls bubbled with excitement about what they done.  One student said “I don’t get a chance to meet people like this outside school.  It was a really great day.”  The school was supported in organising the day by “Future First”, an organisation which seeks to build an active alumni community for every school.  Former students clearly enjoyed their visit and their support of their successors was much appreciated