The Maynard School

- an insight into the fascinating careers and achievements of our more recent alumnae!

Laura left The Maynard School in 2010 with A-levels in Spanish, Economics and English Literature, and admits her career since has taken her a long way from the school gates – quite literally, from the Falklands to the Scottish Highlands.

After school, she headed to Spain for a gap year, working as an au pair for a family in Madrid. She then studied Business Management & Hispanic Studies at the University of Sheffield, spending a year abroad at the Universidad de Málaga along the way. A ski season followed in Les 3 Vallées, where she worked as a chalet host and skied as much as possible, before a move to London saw her take on a variety of roles in HR and Recruitment.

It was an interest that had been quietly building since her teenage years, though, that eventually won out. “Having been an Air Cadet as a teenager, and then an RAF Reservist on Yorkshire Universities Air Squadron whilst at university, I had always been interested in joining the RAF,” she explains. “After four years of London life, I decided it was now or never!”

Since completing Phase 1 training at RAF College Cranwell, Laura’s career has taken her all over the map. Her first posting was as Station Adjutant at RAF Valley in Anglesey, followed by six months as Media Officer in the Falklands, a tour as OC Estates at RAF Northolt on the outskirts of London, and now her current role as Media & Communications Officer at RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed my time in the RAF so far and have had some wonderful experiences and met some great people,” she says. Highlights include a ride in the backseat of a Hawk T1, flying over London in an AW109 helicopter for the King’s Birthday flypast, adventurous training trips to Bavaria, the Dolomites and Sweden, and the annual RAF Ski Championships in Saalbach, Austria.

“What I love most about my job is the variety of opportunities that it throws my way,” Laura says. In her current role, she has worked closely alongside TV producers on the latest series of Channel 4’s documentary Top Guns: Inside the RAF – something she “never would have imagined doing” before joining up – as well as being involved in high-profile visits to the station, including that of His Majesty The King.

Looking back on her time at Maynard, Laura struggles to pick just one highlight. “I had so many great opportunities at Maynard’s and met some great people,” she says, singling out the English trip to Stratford to see the plays and explore the sights – and experience Mrs Martin’s bus-handling skills (“handled like a boss, I must add”). Ten Tors also looms large in her memory: the training, the event itself, and exploring Dartmoor, rain or shine, with a great group of girls. “It was certainly my proudest achievement at the grand old age of seventeen.”

Reflecting on her time at the school, “Attending The Maynard School certainly gave me confidence to step out of my comfort zone and try new things.”

Catch up with the entire series: https://www.maynard.co.uk/going-places/ 🔗

- catching up with some of our Going Places stars to hear their progress and news as we follow their fascinating careers. Get ready to be inspired!

Since we last spoke to 2019 leaver Eve, who was teaching English in Andalusia, she has moved to London where she is working as an Editor and Journalist for a live events company specialising in urban and sustainable transport, which has allowed her “to harness my love of public speaking, writing and traveling all in one role”.

Eve’s role is incredibly diverse, incorporating journalism, content marketing, press coordination, and she even runs the company’s official event podcast. Just ten months in, Eve has had the opportunity to travel to Detroit for their live American event and moderate a round table at a conference with a member of the House of Lords. How amazing!

“I have been surprised by how much I enjoy the camera-facing live broadcasting and interview element, over writing articlesgetting paid to yap to interesting people feels like a dream come true”.

Speaking to an almost universal experience post university, Eve reports “finding a job straight after my year of teaching was incredibly difficult. I applied for quite literally hundreds of jobs… During that time, I took a series of increasingly bizarre temp roles including working for an international timber supplier.” The message here, is one of adaptability and proactivity in the face of a brutal job market.

“Coming to peace with the idea that it was unlikely to secure my dream role straight out of university opened me up to many new experiences that I otherwise wouldn’t have had. I cannot stress enough the importance of being adaptable in the rapidly changing job market of 2026 – who knows, your dream job may very well be one you’ve never heard of.”

Catch up with the entire series: www.maynard.co.uk/going-places/ 🔗

- catching up with some of our Going Places stars to hear their progress and news as we follow their fascinating careers. Get ready to be inspired!

After 3 years working in Real Estate in London, 2017 leaver Jessamy has done a brave 180-degree career change and has now just finished her second year of her second undergraduate degree, this time in Nutritional Sciences at King’s College London!

“I have always been interested in nutrition, mainly through my love of food, and this grew into wanting to understand its relationship with our long-term health, not just in which foods are beneficial for us, but also the science behind why they are and the biological processes they influence within the body”

Before her second degree, Jessamy felt her job in property lacked a sense of purpose “which I have learnt is really important for me in a career”.

“I remember, whilst studying Real Estate at Oxford Brookes, feeling jealous of anyone who was doing a nutrition degree. Looking back, I probably realised sooner than I admitted that I was on the wrong path, but I was eager to get to London and start earning after graduating. However, these thoughts continued during my time working in property. They say jealousy often points you towards something you want for yourself!”

In terms of future plans post her degree, Jessamy is leaning towards work in the public health sphere, focusing on women’s health - for example, designing programmes to improve nutrition before and during pregnancy or developing public health campaigns around pregnancy and early life nutrition.

Despite having nerves about finding a job in today’s tough job market, she’s reminding herself that “realistically, a 3-year “setback” is nothing in the grand scheme of things, especially when it comes from doing something you feel strongly about!”

Jessamy’s update shares such an important message… you are not wedded to your post uni job or industry. She says “if you are thinking of a career change, whether it requires going back to university or not, and if it is financially feasible, then do it! Life is too short not to try out new things; it may take some sacrifice, but if you can’t stop thinking about it, then it is worth the plunge!”.

We can’t wait to catch Jessamy in another 3 years, and see the results from her courageous move.

Catch up with the entire series: www.maynard.co.uk/going-places/🔗

The summer holidays are certainly a time for reflection, and this time we're shining a (spot)light on our incredible staff.

From Maynard's Got Talent, to the Staff Play, to House Song, to Children in Need, our staff consistently bring our 'above and beyond' ethos from classroom to stage.

Endless patience, boundless energy, and an apparently bottomless tolerance for public embarrassment... That's what makes The Maynard so special.

To every member of staff who said yes to the costume, the challenge, the dare — thank you. Our pupils won't forget it (they definitely have it on video).