National Careers Week

National Careers Week (#NCW2025) is a celebration of careers guidance that links education with the world of employment to ensure students get an important insight to the future of work and further learning.

At Kingsbury High School we celebrate National Careers Week over two weeks to help our students learn about different careers and those linked to particular subjects. It is a flagship moment in the calendar year to learn from a wide range of professionals and to learn about careers in lessons.

Lessons over the two weeks linked subject learning to careers, helping to broaden students' understanding of the range of careers that link to specific subjects as well as understanding the soft skills required.

Assemblies and webinars were held across all year groups where we had a number of professionals talking about their career pathways.

We welcomed Alan Brooks, a Senior British Airways Pilot, for National Careers Week. He delivered an inspirational assembly to Year 7s about the importance of being a motivated learner, in order to achieve your goals, in addition to sharing his experiences and skills as a pilot. The students were enthusiastic and asked interesting and considered questions. Later in the day, students from Years 10, 12 and 13 also had the opportunity to hear Alan's presentation, and were given further insight into his educational journey and extra-curricular achievements while at College and University. We would like to thank Alan for taking the time out of his busy schedule to speak to, and motivate our students.

Former Head Girl at Kingsbury High School, Dionne Usherwood, returned to speak to the Year 13 students in assembly for National Careers Week. She shared a motivating talk about her experiences at KHS as a student, and explained how her time at Sixth Form helped to prepare her for higher educational study and a future career path. In particular, she spoke of a visiting speaker who inspired her to undertake charitable work within her local community while at school; an experience which solidified her desire to work closely with local councils, to strengthen the support of children and young people. Dionne also presented to Year 12 Psychology students, giving insights into studying the subject at university and potential career paths this degree may lead to.

Former student James Frater returned to Kingsbury High School to speak to the Year 12s about his academic and career journey. Most notably, studying Medicine at Kings College, completing a course in Management at Imperial Business School and undertaking a Masters in Public Health at Harvard University in America. James shared his ambition to transform health systems in underserved communities, by improving health care quality and access to care. He also talked about the support he received while at Kingsbury High School as a child, including how his English teacher went above and beyond to tutor him and help him with his medical applications to university. The advice he shared with our students was invaluable and we wish him continued success.

We also welcomed Nirah Sanghani, a freelance photographer who has worked on projects with major music artists and for companies such as Nike and Apple. Nirah’s assembly was inspiring and provided students with an insight to being self- employed, finances and freelance.

Alumni Anjali Pindoria, Senior Project Surveyor spoke eloquently in the Year 11 assembly about careers in the construction industry, challenging stereotypes around gender and sharing how skills learnt whilst at school at Kingsbury have supported her in a successful and fulfilling career.

A special thankyou to ‘friends of careers at Kingsbury’ who have provided our students with knowledge, skills and support for several years- Amy Woolf, founder of Woolf Partnerships; Nazim Ali, KPMG; Katie Ralph, set designer (Dr Strange/Wicked/007 Skyfall); Gareth Brannan owner of Rascal Post Production,

Events varied from assemblies to webinars to small group unscripted questions and answers. If you would like to share your career journey with students at Kingsbury High School please contact jennifer.kincaid@kingsburyhigh.org.uk or manisha.sanghani@kingsburyhigh.org.uk