In the university sector, alumni are well known as a source of pride, publicity and engagement opportunities.
While some schools may well do the same, for many it is probably an area where there is much more that could be done - whether the person in question is a famous face, an expert in their field, someone who works in a local profession or simply has had an interesting career path that could inspire pupils.
So, how can schools make the most of their former pupils? Here are some ideas to make the most of the benefits they could bring:
1. Assembly interest
One clear way of using alumni is as a guest speaker at an assembly. They can talk about what it is that they do, how they got there and reflections on their time at school - hopefully positive!
Doing so provides an opportunity for students to hear an inspirational message from someone who was just like them, maybe just a few years previously, and show the link between how their education at school paves the way for future opportunities.
Of course, you’ll need to think logically about arranging the visit and which year groups are most relevant for the talk - maybe just the later years or perhaps the entire school - and of course you’ll need your famous charge to remember they are a school setting and tailor any talk accordingly.
2. Career workshops
Another good idea could be to ask alumni to run workshops discussing their careers and how they got into what they do and share insights, advice and tricks of the trade that may inspire others.
They could, for example, talk about what really helped them get a foot in the door, what key skills students need to develop if they were interested in that sector, or the most important qualifications.
Doing this provides more time for them to fully discuss their insights and give pupils the chance to ask questions - no doubt something that would keep your guests on their toes, too.
3. Career guidance
Building on this, you could also ask alumni to offer more bespoke support and tailored careers guidance to students. Perhaps running a mock interview if they are from a notable business background or offering thoughts on CVs and how to write cover letters as university application season looms.
Or perhaps they can offer advice on how to secure work experience or contacts for a certain profession - maybe they even have contacts that could help secure interesting placements.
4. Bringing school culture to life
I have never worked or set foot in a school that does not champion engagement and ambition, but making these concepts tangible can be hard sometimes - how do we show that we are doing this or that we truly believe it?
Well, bringing back alumni who can discuss a successful, varied and interesting career is ideal for doing just that - showing students what someone like them, from the same place as them, can go on to achieve, and how school was a key part of that journey.
This can also help with school marketing opportunities. While you would not want to suggest that what they have achieved is the only marker of achievement, if used correctly it could certainly underline the impact the school has had on former pupils that may appeal to prospective parents.
5. Arranging the visit
The hardest thing about arranging a visit is often getting in touch with the alumni in the first instance.
The best way is often by email - looking at personal websites or social media sites like X (formerly Twitter) or Facebook to see if there is a way to get in touch.
Reach out to your potential guests with an explanation of how you want to work with them, as well as some general dates that you may want them to come to the school.
You may decide that you are the correct person to reach out to alumni, but you will need to consider whether there are other individuals in your school who already have contacts or if it may appear better coming from the head or principal if it may add extra weight.
Either way, it probably makes sense for there to be one central individual in school who does all of the organising with your alumni.
Nathan Burns is the head of mathematics in a Derbyshire secondary
