Following the on-going success of our bi-annual Careers Fairs at St Mary’s School, where many of you generously support us by sharing your time and experiences, we’re excited to launch our new St Mary’s Mentoring Programme, Empower.

This programme is designed to connect current Year 11-13 students with the exceptional knowledge, insight, and real-world experience of our alumnae community.

You represent a diverse range of industries and professions, from technology and business to entrepreneurial innovation, academia and the arts. Your career journeys are not only inspiring but provide invaluable guidance for our students as they explore their own future paths.

As former students of St Mary's, you know first-hand about the choices and decisions and that lie ahead for today's students. With your support, we can Empower the next generation of St Mary's girls to grow in confidence, raise their aspirations and realise what they too can achieve.

The programme will run through our secure alumnae community platform, Pastonians Connect, which ensures a safe, seamless environment for these invaluable relationships to flourish. We are particularly proud that our alumna platform, in the form it is today, is due to one of you - Sian Morley-Smith, alumna, tech entrepreneur and creator of  the companyToucanTech, which hosts our alumna site.

By supporting us in this mentoring initiative, you will be playing a crucial role in shaping the future of our students, while staying connected to the vibrant alumnae network that makes this community so special.

Whether you can offer a little time or a lot, your involvement can make a lasting impact. We invite you to become a mentor, simply by emailing Emma Hanbury to discuss the level of support you may be able to offer.

Mentorship might include:

• CV and cover letter feedback
• Mock interviews for university or job preparation
• Regular calls or video chats - at a pace that works for you
• Email check-ins - a simple way to stay in touch and provide guidance
• Goal-setting sessions - to support students in tracking academic or personal progress.

This level of engagement could potentially lead on to:

• Work experience or internships through your workplace or network
• Job shadowing opportunities to provide first-hand career insight
• Introductions to professional contacts and trusted contacts to expand a student's horizons.

Other  ways to support could include:

• Sharing your story - including the real lessons you learned from your own path
• Speaking at events or on panels - to inspire a wider group of students
• Hosting Q&A sessions where students can ask candid questions.

Most importantly, you'll be offering something our students would truly appreciate - emotional and moral support by providing:

• Encouragement during exams and key decision-making times
• Confidence building and reassurance
• A listening ear and a non-judgemental and unbiased conversation.

If you’re interested in becoming a mentor—or even just learning more—please email Emma with a brief overview of your career and education since leaving St Mary’s. If you have any ideas or questions, St Mary's would love to hear from you.

Not an alumna but an alumna parent? 

As a parent of a St Mary's girl, we know you will have lots to offer too, including a deep understanding of the support and encouragement that a few wise words, borne from experience, can provide. Please do get in touch if you feel you would like to be part of this mentoring programme.

Thank you for helping us build a stronger, more connected alumnae community - and for guiding the next generation of St Mary’s girls with the wisdom of yours.