The experience I had during my time in Sixth Form studying Maths, Economics & History was fantastic, and shaped my career beyond SBS. During this period, the school supported me both in my academic and personal development, but also with my golf commitments. For example, I had the opportunity to be Deputy Head Boy and also to tutor GCSE students which gave me transferable skills which I have been able to take into my further education and the workplace. The school also facilitated my participation in national schools golf events and allowed me to maintain a high performance level alongside my A Level studies. I am now studying Economics at Exeter University, and I am currently working in Audit and Assurance at Deloitte during my placement year.

I’m currently working in London as a Natural Catastrophes Analyst in the Reinsurance sector, having studied for Economics BSc. My time at SBS really set me up for the future, both in terms of qualifications but more importantly personal development. The opportunities in the sixth form allowed me to grow as a person and develop the confidence to go out and seek bigger challenges.

I studied Maths, Business Studies, Geography, Physics and General Studies. I occasionally attended the computer club prior to 6th form. Computers, IT and technology in general have always been my passion and throughout 6th form I was always dabbling in various related things outside of school. I’ve made a career out of technology in which I’ve been fortunate enough to work on some very humbling projects, such as bringing banking to the underbanked in Africa via M-Pesa and creating life-saving medical devices. I’m now a software architect at IBM.

The thing I appreciated most about 6th form at Simon Balle was the transition into being treated like an adult. The relationship between staff and students was subtly different, far more like the atmosphere in a workplace. As a student you were also expected to be more independent and disciplined in your approach to studying – but there was always the support in place to make sure you were headed in the right direction. This was definitely useful in preparation for university where you’re much more ‘on your own’ when it comes to research and studying outside of lectures.

I studied maths and further maths at A-level, which I went on to read at University. I now work in Consulting where I help all kinds of businesses and organisations make better use of their data. For those times when I’m in front of clients and don’t necessarily have the full picture, I think back to SBS and the amazing music department where I learned to improvise (playing the sax), and the performance will usually turn out alright!

My A-Levels were Business, Economics, Geography and Psychology. I studied Business at Bournemouth and now help protect companies from cyber attacks. I’ve been at my same company now for over 6 years in a variety of roles including developing and managing a team of 12.

Simon Balle was great at supporting every aspect of work including Uni applications and potential career directions and allows you to grow as a person regardless of the path you choose. I’m grateful for my time there and have nothing but fond memories of attending. I enjoyed the extra curricular activities on offer, and I am still in contact with the friends I made on the basketball team: this shows you the strength of the friendships you make at school.

I studied A-Level Maths, English & Sociology. Whilst at SBS I was part of the SSLT (Student Senior Leadership Team) and had a really good group of friends who encouraged my passions.

The teachers were hugely supportive when it came to giving one-on-one guidance or extra tutoring when it was needed, and I have fond memories of sitting in the learning centre with Ms. Mahoney going through extra maths work. When studying sociology, my passion for understanding and trying to find solutions to inequalities in society really began, and I truthfully think I wouldn’t be where I am today, doing what I am doing if I hadn’t initially selected this subject.

I went on to study English at the University of Lincoln, and achieved at 2:1 degree. Here I got involved with many societies and set up the first Hope For Justice Uni Campus Abolition Group (aiming to bring awareness to human trafficking and slavery) under the direction of the CEO. This was my first taste of working with a charity and it was contagious! Amongst this I had many volunteering opportunities and also did community outreach with some of the poorest families in the Lincolnshire area at the local food bank.

After leaving university, I was searching for jobs within the charity sector, but ended up working within an accounts/finance office for a healthcare agency… however, the CEO had just set up a charity working in Sri Lanka. The skills I learned in accounts have actually become essential for my work in Sri Lanka as I am responsible for overseeing the monthly, quarterly, and annual accounts here in Sri Lanka for all the project accounts, submitting them to the relevant offices, and presenting them to the NGO secretariat at the end of each financial year.

I moved to Sri Lanka in October 2017. I work with 2 NGOs/charities: The Dust Project & Paalam Project. We focus on building houses, investing into small businesses, digging wells, building toilets, medical assistance, running schools, and bridging the gap between the advantaged and disadvantaged. Most of the people we help are from families of uneducated, poor, and day-labourers (meaning they are unable to find regular work and struggle to provide for their families) – many of the students in our school come malnourished and with little optimism about their lives.

Since arriving in Sri Lanka I have spent most of my time teaching in the schools, as well as overseeing team trips, child sponsorship, and projects. I learned many of my teaching tricks and methods from when I was at Simon Balle.

I have now taken on the role as a member of the “Paalam School Management Board”. I am now responsible within the schools for ensuring high academic standards, implementing our ACE curriculum/system, training teachers, observing lessons, looking at higher study options for leavers, supporting the seniors as they complete their essays and science projects, finding sponsors for students who come from especially poor socio-economic backgrounds, and ensuring the school is a one sure stable in the students’ lives.

Studying at Simon Balle gave me the understanding of what it means to have a proper education, teachers who genuinely cared about my results, and wanted the best for me. I take thanks and inspiration from this everyday as I hope to recreate this for the students I am able to impact and pass this gift onto. There is power in education, and Simon Balle taught me this!

While studying A-levels in Economics, Geography and Art helped me to develop an ability to think critically and approach subjects analytically, it was the excellent relationships between staff and students that was fundamental to my development. After being awarded my position as Deputy Head Girl, I recognised a passion for implementing change, creating a community ethos and promoting sustainability.

Afterwards, I studied Geography and Economics, where I obtained a First Class Honours degree from the University of Birmingham. Today, I work as Strategy, Policy and Innovation Graduate for EQUANS, helping the UK to deliver substantial carbon savings on the road to net-zero, and thank Simon Balle School for providing me with a profound platform to do so!

In 6th form I achieved 3 A levels and 1 AS level (A-C) including Mathematics and Advanced Mathematics. Additionally I was fortunate enough to benefit from a partnership between Simon Balle and Haileybury College where select students could study for the Securities and Investments Institute (SII) and earned a professional financial qualification (recognised by the QCA)
With my academic achievements and extracurricular activities, particularly in sport, I was accepted into Loughborough University to study a Masters of Mathematics. Loughborough was named University of the Year in 2019 by the Times and Sunday Times. It is the first university to receive this award twice and in 2020 it was awarded University of the Year by the WhatUni Student Choice Awards (WUSSCAs). As well as acting as the official preparation camp for Team GB in the 2012 London Olympics, past and present Loughborough students accumulated a total of 35 medals at the 2014 Commonwealth Games (if had been classed as a county in its own right, Loughborough would have finished 11th in the medal table!
I left Loughborough in 2012 with a First-class honours in Mathematics.
After university I joined HSBC on their graduate management programme rotating roles five times in two years, working in Southampton, various London offices and finally Dubai. I remained in Dubai with HSBC for another three years before going travelling for a year in North, Central and South America.
I subsequently joined Simon-Kucher and Partners (SKP) in Toronto serving customers in North America. SKP is widely considered to be the world’s leading pricing consultancy firm.
I am now working back in Dubai with McKinsey & co which frequently earns top five positions globally as best place to work according to Glassdoor, Forbes, Vault and others. McKinsey reportedly receives more than a million applications per year and hires less than 1% of them. I am currently focusing on Banking and ‘Environmental, Social and Governance’(ESG) efforts. Looking forward I want to move back to Hertford with my soon to be wife and continue working at McKinsey. I would like to help develop and grow McKinsey’s ESG capabilities to help drive ESG efforts on a bigger scale for lasting impact.

I studied Maths, ICT and Business at Simon Balle Sixth Form. This led to a degree in Quantity Surveying and Commercial Management. The atmosphere in the sixth form was amazing and many of us are still in touch over five years later. We were given advice on life after school such as taking a gap year to work/travel, which I did once I finished my studies. If it wasn’t for the sixth form, I wouldn’t be where I am today.

I am currently working as Assistant Marketing Manager for CALA Homes (North Home Counties). I studied Music, Economics and Maths in the sixth form. This was definitely the highlight of my schooling – independence, preparation for university and friendships that will last a lifetime! The advice from sixth form tutors with regards to university choices and career options were brilliant, and helped me to secure my place at The University of East Anglia to study Marketing and Management.

Outside of lessons I enjoyed music and the music department was a huge part of my life! I also played hockey at weekends which helped to balance school, homework and socialising.

I studied Psychology, English Literature and Health and Social Care. I’ve graduated from the University of Kent with a law degree: the support I received during my time at SBS really helped me to follow my dreams even when I felt they might be out of reach. I’m working as a Paralegal for the commercial law team at Hertfordshire County Council, hoping to complete a training contract soon in order to become a solicitor.

I left Simon Balle Sixth form in 2019 to work as a Degree Apprentice Technician (Now Engineer) at Thatcham Research. We specialise in car safety testing research and development. Already, I have built upon and deployed the scientific disciplines gained in my Physics, Maths and Computer Science A-Levels, as well as the research skills I developed through completing an EPQ. Having always had a passion for all things automotive, this job was an obvious choice. My advice to any student is to study and aim for what you love, as the work completes itself. My time at SBS Sixth Form laid firm foundations: I wouldn’t be the person I am today without it.

Sixth form at Simon Balle was a key part of my life. The guidance from teaching and support staff, and the facilities on offer, allowed me to establish the career path I wanted to follow. I studied Applied IT, Film Studies and Drama and Theatre studies. From there, I made the decision not to go to university but to work my way up through various production and post production companies. I am now a senior video editor at an advertising agency in London called Brave Spark. Working in such a technical role years down the road, the technology has of course evolved, but I have never let go of the soft skills acquired like collaboration and self-motivation. Of course, support was never far away if it was needed!