Alumni Raising Aspirations
Name:
Amy Wood
Years I attended Codsall High School:
2008 – 2013
Schools and years I attended:
Codsall High School & 6th Form: Years 9-13
University of Reading (Maths Degree) 2013 – 2016
Jobs I have done:
Part-time Waitress
Part-time Pharmacy Assistant
Part-time Junior Accountant
Test Analyst at Capgemini
My Career Pathway:
School
6th Form
University
Work
My Job Now and Brief Description:
I work at Capgemini as a Test Analyst, which is testing software for defects. I manage a small team of testers and I’m currently working on a Windows 10 migration project, which involves organising testing for all the applications that need to be migrated over to Windows 10.
Advice …
Choose to do what makes you happy when choosing your career pathway – there are often many routes into the same job.
For my current role there are others doing this who have different degrees, some currently doing their degree apprenticeship and some who don’t have a degree.
Name:
Emma Davies
Years I attended Codsall High School:
1991 – 1996
Schools and years, I attended:
Lane Green First School – 1981 – 1987
Bilbrook Middle School – 1987 – 1991
Codsall High School – 1991 – 1996
Jobs I have done:
I left University to join the West Midlands Police Force. Within this job, I became a tutor constable to new recruits before joining a team that investigated drugs and firearms offences.
I returned to education in 2005 to complete my PGCE in Secondary PE teaching at Thomas Telford SCITT before joining Sandwell Academy for my first teaching role.
My Career Pathway:
School : Codsall High School A-Level English, History and Sociology
University: Staffordshire University (1996-1999) BSc Hons Sports Science
Chichester University (2012) – Special Needs Coordinator qualification
My Job Now and Brief Description:
Special Educational Needs Coordinator – Responsibility for all provision and support of students with special educational needs.
PE and English Teacher
Advice…
“Don’t be pushed around by the fears in your mind. Be led by the dreams in your heart.”
― Roy T. Bennett, The Light in the Heart
Name:
Harina Basra
Years I attended Codsall High School:
2008 – 2013
Schools and years I attended:
Sandown First School 1999 – 2004
Perton Middle School 2004 – 2008
Jobs I have done:
Corporate Responsibility Assistant (2016 -2017)
English Language Assistant in Spain (2018)
Education Officer for Wolverhampton Wanderers Foundation (2018 – present)
My Career Pathway:
School
Sixth Form
University
My Job Now and Brief Description:
Education Officer for the Wolverhampton Wanderers Foundation. My job involves planning and managing education projects designed to have a positive impact on the local community, using the power of the football club to engage people. Currently I am running the NCS programme for 15-17-year olds.
Advice…
Don’t worry if you’re not sure what you want to do in the future, try out different roles and remember there is something to be learned from every opportunity. It’s these experiences that will help you understand what you like/don’t like doing and give you some direction for your future.
Name:
Lewis Humphries
Years I attended Codsall High School:
2008 – 2014
Schools and years, I attended:
Sandown First School 1999 – 2004
Codsall Middle School 2004 – 2008
Codsall High School 2008 – 2011
Codsall High Sixth Form 2011 – 2014
Jobs I have done:
Customer Service Assistant at Pavilion Garden Store
Apprentice Teaching Assistant
Teaching Assistant
My Career Pathway:
School
Sixth Form
Apprenticeship
University (Currently attending OU)
My Job Now and Brief Description:
I am currently a Teaching Assistant at Codsall Community High. My job has evolved of the pass few years to include becoming a leader on the schools Duke of Edinburgh program and also working with small groups within the Maths department. I am still in Education and I am currently working towards a BSc (Hons) STEM Degree to allow me to move into full time teaching.
Advice…
My advice is not to give up working towards your goal, there may be times you feel like you have hit a brick wall which you cannot pass, you CAN pass that wall, you just need to believe in yourself and your future.