A LONG EATON school is appealing to former students to return to the classroom and talk to current pupils about their careers in a bid to raise aspirations.
Staff at The Long Eaton School, in Thoresby Rd, are urging alumni to share their successes with pupils to help them visualise life after the classroom and improve academic and extracurricular achievements.
The school works hard to ensure pupils fulfil their potential and has had many high-achieving former students.
Among the most recent successes is actress Liv Hill who was nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Bafta for her performance in the BBC1 mini-series, Three Girls.
Liv was still studying for her A-Levels at the school when she received her nomination, alongside Broken’s Anna Friel, Broadchurch’s Julie Hesmondhalgh and The Crown’s Vanessa Kirby.
Headteacher Richard Peel is inviting former pupils to come back to Long Eaton School to talk about their lives after education.
Headteacher Richard Peel said: “It can be hard for students to imagine life after school, so it’s really helpful to have visitors in to inspire them, especially those they can relate to as they may have had similar experiences and home lives.
“All the staff are particularly proud of Liv Hill. She studied while also having various bouts away for filming on different projects and is a terrific role model for every young person.
“Research suggests that the effect of near-peer role models can be crucial in building life skills such as confidence and resilience.
“The benefits for students seeing someone who has been in their shoes go on and be successful, have a fantastic job and love what they do is very strong.”
The historic school was originally founded in 1910 as Long Eaton Higher Elementary School, before becoming Long Eaton Grammar School in the 1940s.
It has had many high-profile pupils over the years including Douglas Houghton MP, who became Lord Houghton of Sowerby and worked in Prime Minister Harold Wilson’s cabinet. He returned to the school for a speech day in 1969 or 1970.
Judge Keith Matthewman QC attended the school in the 1940s and 50s, while the former editor in chief of ITN News David Mannion was a pupil in the 1960s.
Mr Peel added: “Of course, we are not just looking for alumni volunteers that are well established in their careers, or even ‘top of their game’.
“We hope to bring some younger volunteers, who may have only just started in their careers, back to the classroom too.”
If you attended The Long Eaton School and would like to support current pupils, please contact head of sixth form Marcus Caton by emailing mcaton@longeaton.derbyshire.sch.uk
