Day One
After months of meticulous planning, staff and Year 12 students from the Associated Sixth Form of Emmanuel College, Gateshead and Grace College, Gateshead gathered at 5:30am, eager to board the Stanley Coaches and make good time to London.
Thankfully, traffic was on our side, and we arrived in Harrow at 12:30pm. After a few scenic laps of the site, we finally checked in, dropped off our bags, and headed straight for Central London and the British Museum. This wasn’t Mr Steer’s first rodeo and therefore getting nearly 200 people onto a packed London tube was a masterclass in logistical calm.
The sun was shining as we made our way to the museum, albeit slightly behind schedule. The residential workbooks were put to good use, with students engaging deeply in a short space of time. As we gathered on the steps outside for a group photo, the clouds also gathered… and just as the shutter clicked, the rain began to fall.
Undeterred, we made a quick dash to Covent Garden. The rain didn’t let up, so students were quickly briefed on the meeting point before we all dispersed to find shelter and grab a well-earned meal in nearby cafés, restaurants, and fast-food spots.
Refreshed and refuelled, we made our way to the Lyceum Theatre for an unforgettable performance of The Lion King – a definite highlight of the day. Outstanding!
At 11:30pm, after a very long day that began as early as 4:00am for many, students were understandably flagging – but the sight of our university halls was a welcome one.
An incredible day full of unforgettable moments. Amazing staff. Wonderful students.
Breakfast is at 7:00am – and another packed itinerary awaits. Time to recharge and do it all again!
Day Two
Late to bed, early to rise. Today’s packed itinerary included visits to the Bank of England, the Financial Times, Antler Group, Parliament, and Horizon-22 – followed by an evening reception for Emmanuel College alumni.
It’s hard to know where to begin with this post – so much happened in one day. Our hosts have been incredibly generous with their time, resources, and expertise. When I started planning this residential visit several months ago, the logistics of moving 200 sixth formers between multiple venues at set times felt almost impossible. But thanks to the support of some amazing people in London, today, we made it happen.
My group’s day began with a visit to the Bank of England Museum – an opportunity for students to explore London’s financial district, learn about the Bank’s history, and speak directly with several of its employees. Huge thanks to Carly Sandy and Andrew Hebden for organising, coordinating, and hosting us so brilliantly.
From there, we hotfooted it to the Financial Times’ HQ at Bracken House, where Jacqui Dobson had curated an exceptional experience for our students. Jacqui has a remarkable ability to connect with young people, and the work experience opportunities offered by the FT – specifically designed to improve access and enhance social mobility – are truly impressive. I’ve no doubt several students will be following up with Jacqui after today. It was also great to hear from Kimberley Lim about the FT for Schools Programme, something Emmanuel College has benefitted from for several years. A big thank you as well to the journalists who gave up their time to share insights into their work. As an avid listener to The Political Fix, I particularly enjoyed meeting Stephen Bush, Associate Editor. Thank you again, Jacqui, for all your preparation – you did it! And thanks to Andrew Jack for getting the ball rolling.
After lunch, we visited Antler’s London HQ to meet alumnus Adam French, Partner at the firm. Adam generously cleared his diary to welcome our students and spoke at length about his journey – from Emmanuel College to LSE, Goldman Sachs, Scalable Capital, and now Antler. He shared thoughtful and insightful advice for sixth formers who are not only ambitious, but also keen to make a difference. What an inspiring CV – and what a privilege for our students to hear from Adam and from the entrepreneurs currently in residency. It was the perfect end to a remarkable visit. Thank you, Adam – just fantastic!
It was no small feat for our hosts to welcome and engage 200 students in one day. We are so grateful.
My group returned to base buzzing with excitement and inspiration. Meanwhile, my colleagues Mr Lloyd and Miss Chatterjee were just arriving back from Parliament, where Mark Ferguson MP and Robyn Briggs had generously hosted another group for more than two hours. After an introduction to Mark’s work and the role of his office, students took part in a mock debate on mandatory voting, followed by a tour and the chance to sit in the viewing gallery to watch Lucy Powell, the Business Secretary, taking questions in the House. Huge thanks to Mark and his team for making this possible.
After a lovely evening meal at Harrow Halls, we turned our attention to the alumni evening reception. It was a real pleasure to welcome back alumni to speak to students just beginning their sixth form journey. Following formal introductions and reflections on the highs and lows of their careers – successes, failures, resilience, and courage – our students had the chance to network and seek advice. It was heartening to watch them seize the opportunity, quiz their predecessors, and soak up every word of their wisdom.
A truly special day.
We go again tomorrow!
