Ones to watch

From public relations trailblazers to paralympic medallists, here are some of the independent school alumni making a name for themselves in their chosen fields

AMBAH SIMPSON

AMBAH SIMPSON, 26

Manchester High School for Girls

Brand Marketing Manager for YouTube at Google

Something that was ingrained in me from an early age through my amazing experience at MHSG was how important it is to appreciate diverse cultures. Since then, throughout university and the early stages of my career, I’ve constantly sought out opportunities to advocate for minority groups and drive equality in the technology industry space. I think that it’s fantastic that studying at an all-girls’ school allowed me to truly believe that I can reach for any dream that I may have, despite my gender.

These experiences led me to my role at Google, where I amplify the voices of underrepresented creators, celebrate them within the YouTube space and support them as they move towards a more optimistic future filled with endless possibilities. My vision for YouTube goes beyond this. I’m aware that there are gaps that are causing challenges within these communities. I hope to close these gaps through my work within the marketing and tech space. s

JENNIFER OGUNLEYE

BEN STEWARD

ASWAD KHAN

JENNIFER OGUNLEYE, 29

ACS International School Hillingdon

Communications professional at Google

I’ve always been a critical thinker and a good communicator, so a career in public relations seemed the obvious choice. I’ve worked across healthcare, transport, tech, finance and property industries, and apply these insights to my current role at Google.

Championing diversity is so important to me. This has manifested itself in different ways, from setting up the UK Black Comms Network and guest-editing an anti-racist edition of PRWeek, to hosting the first collaborative Black History Month event with the Black partners from all the Big Four (KPMG, EY, Deloitte & PwC) for the first time ever. Being included in this year’s PRWeek PowerBook – which lists the most influential players in the comms industry – has been my proudest moment.

I’m privileged to have completed the IB diploma at ACS, so it’s important to support the professionals coming up next, and have the confidence to say yes to the opportunities I’ve worked hard for.

BEN STEWARD, 23

Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate, North Yorkshire

Civil Service Fast Streamer

I left QE in 2015, since which I’ve read for a BA and an MSt in History at Oxford, worked as a consultant for an international tech company, and joined the Civil Service via the UK’s top-ranked graduate scheme. The past year has seen me working to support the government’s Covid-19 response, and I’m looking forward to engaging with other major public projects soon. My time at QE not only gave me a platform to push myself academically, but also opportunities to widen my horizons, take on meaningful responsibilities, and grow significantly in confidence as a result. I remain grateful for what was a truly unique experience, and am glad that it lives on through the support of the school’s alumni network and the friends I made while there.

ASWAD KHAN, 26

Abbey College Manchester

Medical Student & international cricket player

Attending Abbey College, where I studied A-levels in biology, chemistry, and philosophy and ethics, really prepared me for my journey into medicine. I’m currently in my final year at Medical University Pleven in Bulgaria, where I also hold the role of President of the Association of International Medical Students.

Alongside my studies, sport is a very big part of my life, and from the moment I started playing cricket at the age of seven, I fell in love with the beautiful game. After living in Bulgaria for three years and qualifying to represent the country, I was honoured to receive my first international cap for Team Bulgaria in the Sofia T20 International Tournament, even taking my first two T20 wickets!

VALENTIN PECHNIKOV, 22

Taunton School, Somerset

Quantative Researcher

Since leaving school, I’ve graduated top of the class from London School of Economics (LSE) with a BSc in mathematics and economics and have gone on to do a master’s in mathematics and finance at Imperial College London. I’ve just begun my career as a Quantitative Researcher at a hedge fund. I truly believe that my experience at Taunton School International has played a massive role in helping me become the person that I am today.

Coming from Russia, I was looking for a school that would offer an unparalleled learning experience, while ensuring well-rounded development outside of the classroom. The Taunton School International one-year IGCSE programme offered just that.

RHIANNON NEADS, 29

Royal High School Bath GDST, Somerset

Actor, writer & stand-up comedian

My time at RHSB prepared me for the many challenges a career in the performing arts can throw at you. I trained as an actor at LAMDA, and have since worked on stage, screen and BBC radio, alongside writing and performing my own work with my award winning comedy duo, Stiff & Kitsch.

No two days are the same, and you need flexibility and resilience – skills I learnt in my time at RHSB. Alongside nurturing a growing passion for theatre, the school instilled the idea that any problem can be tackled, giving me the confidence to believe no task is insurmountable, be it recording an animation voiceover from a makeshift wardrobe studio, or figuring out how to write a risk assessment for my first Edinburgh Fringe show!

SABRINA CHIEN, 27

St Mary’s Cambridge

Junior Specialist, Christie’s Hong Kong

Currently working in the Modern & Contemporary Art department, a day in my life ranges from researching and art valuation, to authenticating and examining artworks spanning from the early 1900s to current day. A strong passion for art and history has been ingrained within me since I was young.

St Mary’s Cambridge will always have a special place in my heart. It was a place for me to learn, make mistakes, and grow. The principal and teachers’ unconditional support is something I’ll always treasure. I was astounded to find out that St Mary’s launched a brand new A-level subject tailored just for students who wanted to pursue art history at university, like myself. As a sixth former, they encouraged me to lead museum outreach work with Fitzwilliam, and supported my internship at Cheffins. I’m so grateful for the support St Mary’s gave me. The privilege of studying there has given me unique opportunities to work towards my dream job. s

VALENTIN PECHNIKOV

RHIANNON NEADS

SABRINA CHIEN

GUY LITTLEJOHN, 32

Pocklington School, North Yorkshire

Founder, Facets Commercial Consulting Ltd

Studying at Pocklington gave me the springboard to build my business, as the multi-channelled education and facilities taught me to consistently push myself.

I studied marketing (specialising in social media commercialisation) at Newcastle University before moving to London to embark on a career commercialising a variety of digital services and technology products. Then my fiancé and I moved to Cheshire, and the diverse nature of my upbringing and career has allowed me to have a unique outlook on how to scale my business and the businesses of our clients. Multi-disciplinary, but connected channels driven by specialists working across a parttime business model, allow us to adapt to the regular ebbs and flows of the commercial world in a fast paced digital industry.

EMILY ACKLAND, 24

Exeter School, Devon

Entrepreneur

After studying food marketing at Reading University and working in London for a year, I realised how disconnected people are from where food comes from. To bridge this gap, I launched a milk brand, The Udder Stuff, based from my family dairy farm in Devon. Consumers can purchase farm-fresh milk and milkshakes via a self-service vending machine, knowing they’ve been produced just up the road.

Having taken part in Young Enterprise at school, it fired up my passion for running my own business. The variety of tasks, from accounts to marketing and people management to communication means no two days are the same! The skills learned at school and university have given me the confidence and knowledge to grow my brand.

GASHIRAI MBIZVO, 33

Sherborne School, Dorset

Neurology registrar doctor

I recently submitted my PhD thesis specialising in epilepsy, at Edinburgh University.

My time at Sherborne gave me an unspoken confidence that I could do whatever I want in this life, as long as I work at it. I had a fantastic biology teacher (Dr Wadham), who made the human body so fascinating that I decided to pursue a career surrounding human biology. I read medicine at Liverpool, having undertaken an intercalated Master of Research degree, which I graduated from with Distinction. Working as a doctor has been hugely rewarding. I was recently having some confidence issues about my PhD. The confidence boost I needed came from my mentor, who simply asked – “what school did you go to?” I responded: “Sherborne”. He then said “exactly”. Soon after, I was invited up to the Scottish Parliament to present my PhD work.

GUY LITTLEJOHN

EMILY ACKLAND

GASHIRAI MBIZVO

REBEKAH WALTON

GUS BURTON

GEORGIA WILSON

REBEKAH WALTON, 22

Repton School, Derbyshire

Javelin thrower & mechanical engineering student

Studying at Loughborough University, I’m in an incredibly fortunate position to pursue both my athletic and academic ambitions. I currently train for 25 hours a week, which I balance alongside my degree. Although training is demanding and requires a strict routine, I‘ve recently become the British Senior javelin champion, and finished fifth at the European Under 23’s Athletic Competition, Tallinn.

I was once disinterested in engineering as the traditional association with machinery had no appeal. However, Loughborough has allowed me to combine my passions for STEM and sport, enabling me to undertake further study in Sports Engineering, which I find particularly engaging.

GUS BURTON, 18

Felsted School, Essex

Racing driver

Winning the 2021 British GT4 Championship with my co-driver, Will Burns, in my first season has been a dream come true. I’ve been named as a ‘Rising Star’ by the British Racing Drivers’ Club, which adds some pressure, but I’m used to it – I’ve been motor racing competitively for the past four years. I started karting when I was nine and couldn’t wait to move on to compete in the Ginetta Junior Championship. I now race in the GT4s and am developing my driving skills ready to move up to GT3. I’m a Porsche Carrera Junior GB Finalist too, which gives me the chance to be selected to race for this brand for the next two years.

Racing is an important part of my life, but so is being an ambassador for Sparkle Foundation, which was founded by another Felsted student to feed, educate and provide medical care for children in Malawi. I’m pleased to be able to use my passion for motorsport to support this brilliant charity.

GEORGIA WILSON, 28

Rydal Penrhos, Wales

Paralympian

I scooped two bronze medals at the Paralympic Games in Tokyo this year. I was a late replacement on the squad for eight-time Paralympic champion Sophie Christiansen. It was an opportunity to further enhance my credentials after winning the European freestyle gold in 2019.

I started riding aged two, after a physio advised my mum that it’d help me with my balance.

My first pony was a Shetland called Diana, who was then followed by a pony called Poppy – he was handed down to my sisters when I had outgrown him. I also joined the Pony Club and the RDA at Clwyd SRC, attending my first RDA nationals on Aaron, a palomino pony – which gave me the bug for dressage. I have also competed with BYRDs Wales team.

World class

With its global mindset, Lycée International de Londres Winston Churchill is the natural first choice for international families in London

With 100 per cent success in all exams and graduates admitted to the most prestigious universities in the world, Lycée International de Londres Winston Churchill offers a perfect balance between academic rigour and innovation. Its guiding philosophy places the needs of each child at the heart of the educational experience, welcoming every student into a dynamic and caring international community.

A remarkable 100 per cent of 2021’s graduating class passed with excellent marks. The school’s average IB Diploma grade is 35.8/45, well above the world average of 33.02/45, and 88 per cent of its French Baccalauréat students passed with honours, including 43 per cent with highest honours. Below are a few messages the school received:

“Thank you so much for your help throughout those two years for both my education and wellbeing!” (LIL student)

“We were thrilled by our daughter’s excellent results at the IB!! She has met her conditions for her first choice and we are so happy for her. Thank you again for all your support!” (LIL parent)

Unlike local schools teaching in a single language that can tie students to a national curriculum and restrict their future options elsewhere, Lycée Churchill offers programmes that open educational avenues.

Lycée International de Londres Winston Churchill is a co-ed, independent non-selective bilingual school located on a leafy two-hectare campus in North London. Accommodating 850 students aged three to 18, as well as two bilingual programmes, the school aims to develop every child into a forward-thinking, principled, and joyful world citizen.

Language immersion begins at three years old. Classes are taught jointly by native speakers of French and English, both present at all times.

In the primary section, instruction is half in English, half in French from year one/GSM to year six/CM2. Each class meets every day with French-speaking and English-speaking teachers, who coordinate as well with specialty teachers in subjects such as PE, language, and music.

In secondary, families choose between the French bilingual programme accredited by the French department for education, leading to the Baccalauréat, or an international track taught in English leading to the IB Diploma.

The Lycée offers an international environment where cultures from around the world can encourage dialogue. Its modern teaching ethos combines traditional disciplines with initiative, exploration, critical thinking, teamwork, and personal development.

Lycée Churchill takes full advantage of the latest educational technologies. This solid digital foundation proved to be a major asset during the pandemic when the Lycée pivoted seamlessly to online learning. The school now offers distance education programmes and virtual classes, a boon for families who are moving between assignments or looking for quality education from a remote setting.

admissions@lyceeinternational.london, lyceeinternational.london

ENJOY THE SEASON FAMILY LIFE

Holiday inspiration, things to see and do, plus a competition to enter

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