Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Careers
  3. Personal development programmes
  4. Future first

Future First

FutureFirst.org.uk

Helps state schools and colleges to build thriving alumni communities. Former students can have a transformative effect on young people’s confidence, motivation and skills. Having grown up in the same area and having had some of the same teachers, former students can be ideal career role models as they are instantly relatable.

Research (undertaken by the charity Education and Employers) shows that more encounters with employers while at school means young people are significantly less likely to be unemployed and will earn up to 18% more. An alumni community provides students with access to a network of role models in a wide variety careers and courses. Alumni will return to schools to share experiences and insights into the world of work, training and education after school. This may include supporting decision-making at important transition points. They might give help with interviews or the UCAS process, for example. Many alumni return to give careers talks to small groups or assemblies and this inspires students to work harder and aim higher. Alumni are also able to offer a range of work shadowing opportunities. Alumni create a community of volunteers for a range of activities from school governors to fundraising.

As students leave each year, they too sign up to the alumni network and return to inspire students in their old seats. This allows students, as recent leavers, to stay connected to the school and access support once they’ve left. By volunteering to inspire the next generation, these students can improve their CVs, access references from teachers and continue to be part of a network of support for years to come.

See http://www.futurefirst.org.uk/ or get in touch on [email protected].    

Schools they work with

Most popular Good Schools Guide articles

  • Special educational needs introduction

    Some special needs are easy to spot, others are only determined once a child has experienced considerable difficulties, frustrations or social and emotional problems.  Over the years, diagnosis of and provision for SEN have improved, but both can still be a minefield. Identifying different kinds of special educational needs Few children fit a condition perfectly – if they do, we tend to say they are a ‘classic’ case. Most will not be straightforward: perhaps a dyslexic with dyspraxia and a touch of ADD, or a child with ASD who also has Down’s syndrome. Just as special needs are hard to…

  • The Good Schools Guide online subscription

    Find the best school for your child. One month subscription - £0.49 per day Three month subscription - £0.41 per day Six month subscription - £0.33 per day One year subscription - £0.29 per day Register for instant access to: ☑ Search for more than 30,000 schools in our parent friendly interactive directory. ☑ Create and save lists of schools via My Schools. ☑ Use our comparison grid to get exam results overview of schools you are interested in. ☑ Find comprehensive advice on state and independent schools, tutors and special needs. ☑ Catchment maps for English state schools by…

  • Finding a state grammar school

      There are currently around 164 state funded grammar schools located in 36 English local authorities, with around 167,000 pupils between them. There are a further 69 grammar schools in Northern Ireland, but none in Wales or Scotland. Almost half of these are considered 'selective authorities' (eg Kent and Buckinghamshire), where around one in five local children are selected for grammar school entry based on ability. The others are areas such as Barnet or Kingston, with only a few grammar schools. How to find a state grammar school Word of warning: not all selective grammar schools have 'grammar' in their…

  • Schools for children with performing arts talents

    As proud parents, we all know our children are unique. They're smarter than anyone else's, funnier, certainly more attractive, better behaved and above all bursting with the kind of talent that would leave Daniel Radcliffe or Charlotte Church standing. And sometimes, just sometimes, parental pride is justified.

  • State boarding schools

    If you think your child would benefit from a boarding school education, but are put off by the high fees and consequent limited social mix of a typical independent boarding school, you may find that a state boarding school is the answer. Read more... State grammar schools Counties such as Kent or Buckinghamshire are ‘selective authorities’ and most families will have at least one grammar school close to where they live. Elsewhere, for example in Reading or Kingston-on-Thames, there are just one or two grammar schools and competition for places at these is ferocious. Grammar schools are located in 36…

Subscribe for instant access to in-depth reviews:

☑ 30,000 Independent, state and special schools in our parent-friendly interactive directory
☑ Instant access to in-depth UK school reviews
☑ Honest, opinionated and fearless independent reviews of over 1,000 schools
☑ Independent tutor company reviews

Try before you buy - The Charter School Southwark

The Good Schools Guide subscription

GSG Blog >    In the news >

The Good Schools Guide newsletter

The Good Schools Guide Newsletter

Educational insight in your inbox. Sign up for our popular newsletters.

Tired of London schools? There’s plenty of life elsewhere…

 
We use cookies to give you the best possible online experience. If you continue, we'll assume you are happy for your web browser to receive all cookies from our website. See our privacy policy for more information.

For a limited time get one month's Good Schools Guide subscription free with any purchase of The Good Schools Guide to Boarding Schools.