“At Ysgol Eirias we are proud to be able to offer a wide and varied range of guest speakers each year, many of whom are Eirias alumni, keen to give something back to the school. In recent years we have heard from a Facebook employee, an airline pilot, an investment banker, an advanced skills neonatal nurse, a JCB higher level apprentice, to name just a few. This is in addition to the many external speakers that we welcome into school from universities, Student Finance Wales, Oxbridge outreach, Careers Wales and many more”
Head of Sixth Form
Law and The Crown Prosecution Service
Nicky Moore, an Eirias alumni student who now works for the Crown Prosecution Service in Greater Manchester explained the work of the CPS in preparing cases for criminal prosecutions, working on serious cases including burglary, organised crime and murder.
She was also able to share her own experiences from completing A Levels at Eirias, to a degree in Law and Criminology at Keele University and gaining her legal qualifications at Chester Law School.
Degree Apprenticeships and the Construction Industry
Ex student Ed Haley talked to Year 12 students about the construction industry. Since leaving Eirias, Ed took a 'thin sandwich' course at Salford University which involved 6 months of study and 6 months of placement for the first 3 years.
After gaining employment as a graduate manager Ed then rose through the ranks to become a Project Manager, responsible for multi-million pound construction projects. Ed currently works for Read Construction in North Wales.
The Financial Sector
We were delighted to invite alumni student, Jonathan Nye back to school today to speak about his varied and exciting experiences since leaving 6th form. Jonathan spent a gap year working, travelling and completing volunteering work in Argentina.
Jonathan then completed a degree in Mathematics and Astrophysics at the University of Cambridge. He has since worked for some large financial institutions in London. Jonathan obtained a graduate diploma in Economics, whilst working and also taught himself computer coding.
Jonathan's talked to the full Year 12 cohort before providing some more specialised presentations for our Mathematics and Physics students.
Medicine
We were delighted to welcome Lowri Edwards back into school to speak to some of our aspiring Year 12 medical applicants about her experiences at university. Lowri has just completed her first year of study at the prestigious Trinity College Medical School in Dublin and is thoroughly enjoying her time there.
She was able to pass on some useful tips about work experience, personal statements, entrance exams and preparing for interviews. Lowri also provided advice which helped 3 of our Year 13 students to secure offers at Medical schools in the UK this year.
Advanced Level Apprenticeship
We were delighted to welcome ex-student Kieran Smith back to Ysgol Eirias, to discuss his experience as an advanced level apprentice with Wales and West Utilities. Kieran spoke to a group of Year 12 and Year 13 students to share his experience of the application and interview process involved in Apprenticeship applications as well as his personal experience within the industry.
Nursing and Neonatal Nursing
Ex-student Rhian Smith is an Advanced Neonatal Nurse Practitioner at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd and amongst other responsibilities, Rhian has involved in a link programme with hospitals in Ethiopia.
She also supports the Welsh Air Ambulance service and has flown with the ambulance on a number of occasions in the North Wales area.
The Welsh Audit Office & Broadening Horizons
Eirias alumni, Mary Owen talked to Year 12 students about her career in the Welsh Audit Office. She has worked with high profile clients such as North Wales Police and the Welsh Ambulance Service, helping them to make the best use of their resources.
Mary also shared her experience of taking a sandwich year at university and the importance of resilience when applying for jobs. Also the value of having fluency in welsh when applying for jobs in Wales.
Psychology & Theatre Directing
We were very fortunate to welcome ex-students Emily Smeaton and Hannah Noone back into school to talk to the 6th Form. Since graduating in Psychology at Oxford, Emily has held various positions in the UK and Australia and she is now completing a doctorate in Psychology at Manchester.
Hannah meanwhile has moved on from starring in school productions to a first class degree and MA from Durham University in Music and she is now operating as a freelance Theatre and Opera director, working on a variety of exciting projects in the UK and beyond.
We would like to thank all of our guest speakers who have taken the time out of their busy schedules to come in to school to speak to our students on their careers.
Other guest speakers have included
Phil Hewinson (Alumni): Cambridge graduate, Facebook, Google
Paul Stevens (Alumni): Airline pilot
Beverley Budgon (Alumni): Estate Management Surveyor, National Trust, and toy distribution entrepeneur
Dr Tom Wilkinson: lecturer in Biology and Environmental Science at University College Dublin
Rhys and Chris Styles: Pinacl Solutions (Computer Technology solutions), St Asaph
Catherine Adey-Davies: entrepreneur, networking consultant
Jan Goody: local business entrepeneur
Marina Kogan: Life Coach and Marketing
James Popsys: (Alumni) International Social Media and Vlogging entrepeneur
Emily Smeaton: (Alumni) Oxford Psychology graduate specialising in Dementia and Brain injury
Amber Stevenson (Alumni): Sutton Trust Scholar in the USA
Omer: Syrian refugee, living in North Wales
We have also had representatives from the following organisations:
Universities of Oxford and Cambridge (Outreach service)
Universities of Lancaster, Manchester, Bangor, Liverpool
NHS webinar
Ysbyty Glan Clwyd
DriveSafe
Water Safety
Project Trust (Gap Year Company)