Upper VI students spent a valuable evening networking with Abbey Alumnae  at the Alumnae Regional Drinks.  The event at St Hilda’s College, University of Oxford was a great opportunity for students to learn more about the Oxbridge applications process, life at university and resulting career paths. 

Principal of St Hilda’s, Dame Sarah Springman was our guest speaker and she shared stories about her career journey from an elite-level sportswoman to a distinguished career as civil engineer. She talked about the unique history of the College, founded to deliver a university education to women, and more recently becoming a mixed college.

The evening was organised by our Engagement & Development Office as part of a busy annual calendar of alumnae events. Head of Sixth Form Enrichment, Mike Dalton, said “It was inspirational to see so many positive conversations taking place, and so much advice and encouragement being shared”.

Students were buzzing from the experience. “I met Alexandra who is a solicitor and she told me about her career in law, giving me advice on choosing an area of legal practice in the future; I got great insight into the interview process and life at university, which made me feel more at ease with the application process; I got to talk to the alumnae who graduated last year, and they shared their experience of their first few months in Oxford ; by talking to older alumnae, I saw how people’s careers change over time and got a few more ideas of where my degree could take me”.