At the end of 2024, six Bolton School alumni returned to share their career journeys with Boys’ Division pupils in Year 8. The group of alumni, who work in a wide variety of different sectors, gave pupils an insight into the world of work through a series of short presentations and activities.
Detective Constable Morgan Skeels-Caldwell of Greater Manchester Police (Class of 2018) spoke about his journey in the police force, sharing how he became a detective, going on to work on a number of high-profile cases. Morgan set out an activity for the pupils to complete which included a fictional criminal case, in which pupils investigated various pieces of evidence.
Faye Clarkson (Class of 2023) returned to Bolton School after visiting Girls’ Division pupils in Year 8 in November 2024. Faye is now working as a Solicitor Degree Apprentice at Weightmans LLP, where she has the opportunity to study towards her law degree one day per week while working in the firm for the remaining four days. She gave an overview of her time at school and why she chose to go into a degree apprenticeship before talking about what it involves. She spoke about the different routes to qualify as a solicitor, the various levels of staff within a firm and the different practice areas in law.
Waqqas Patel (Class of 2014) is a Surgical Trainee who after completing his medical degree and Foundation years, is now completing specialist surgical training. Waqqas was drawn to Medicine due to an interest in observing real differences in real-time; the role also comes with lots of challenges – no two days are ever the same, and he enjoys using the state-of-the-art technology. Pupils particularly enjoyed using the equipment Waqqas brought into class, which involved placing as many beads as possible into another pot without dropping them, challenging their hand-eye coordination.
Peter Johnson (Class of 2019) completed his Master’s degree in Broadcast Journalism at the University of Salford, going on to work as Lead Journalist for a major publication. Peter is now a presenter at Bolton FM, bringing the latest news and interviews to the local area. Pupils enjoyed picking Peter’s journalistic brain on all things sport and even got the opportunity to become a presenter, recording themselves on their iPads and introducing their favourite song.
Jessica Ryan (Class of 2014) is a performer who graduated from East 15 Acting School with a BA (Hons) in World Performance after completing her Foundation Year in Acting and Musical Theatre at Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts in 2014-15. She is now Head of the Withington Branch of the Urban Stage School of Performing Arts – a performing arts school. Jessica has starred in several shows, including local pantomimes and has even graced the stages of the Edinburgh Fringe.
Rob De Maine (Class of 2002), a Royal Navy helicopter pilot spoke with pupils about his career, sharing his time after Bolton School studying Physics at Lancaster University and going on to join the Royal Navy as a pilot in 2005. Rob talked about what his work involves, including humanitarian relief and counterpiracy operations. Pupils enjoyed answering Rob’s quiz on the diverse range of roles conducted by aircraft in the Royal Navy, from air-to-air combat in the latest fighter jets to surveillance, anti-submarine warfare and troop carrying conducted by helicopters.
Year 8 made the most of the opportunity to hear from so many different alumni about their careers and had plenty of questions to ask following each session.
