“It’s not I want to, it’s I will” - alumni accelerate ambition at The Bulwell Academy
“Having real-life role models has impacted our students by empowering them to see past barriers they thought were in the way because of geographical location.”
With a pre-existing alumni engagement strategy, which consisted of a few different methods to connect with alumni, the careers team at The Bulwell Academy were in need of reaching a wider range of former students.
With around 220 students leaving the school each year, there was a whole diverse community of alumni with different pathways and careers to engage with. Future First has worked with The Bulwell Academy to activate, build and connect their alumni community for over two years. Tash Cooper, Associate Assistant Principal – Careers, shared the impact of their alumni community so far:
“From HR managers to solicitors there is a huge range of talent that has come out of our school. Tapping into this is key to our careers programme as I really think the message ‘I have sat in your seat and I have achieved…’ enables our students to connect with a wide range of role models and start to pursue their dreams.”
Outcomes of alumni engagement
“Alumni is a firm part of our careers strategy and we are building on this year after year with the support of Future First. From the workshops and sessions we’ve had, there has been an immediate impact on raising aspirations and showing students that they are able to achieve whatever they put their mind to.”
“A Year 9 student reiterated the importance of this work to me in one of our alumni sessions. She said ‘after today it’s not I want to… it’s I will.”
“Having real-life role models has impacted our students in seeing past any barriers they thought they had just because of geographical location.”
Alumni engagement methods
“We have built our alumni network up and now we make sure we keep them updated with the latest news and developments. We also invite them to key events such as open evenings and Christmas fairs.”
“We often reach out for support with bespoke in-person and online bespoke alumni sessions, as well as key careers events such as mock interviews and the careers fair.”
“We look forward to working on this further this year with more bespoke sessions that are specific to students’ needs and match them with role models from their community.”
Making an impact on students' aspirations
“Last year’s alumni day for Year 9 students generated so much inspiration. To have a range of alumni there was amazing, from first-year college and university students to those working in different industries, we were able to showcase the wide range of options to students. They were able to ask questions and interact with people who had sat in their seats.”
Advice for activating alumni
“If you’re looking at building and engaging your own alumni community with Future First, make sure you use your planning meeting and Alumni Programme Manager to set out your plan for the year. Keep in mind that alumni like to be involved but also just to visit the school – give them opportunities to give back and also opportunities where they can visit and get involved.”
Find out more about activating, building and connecting your alumni.
