On the hottest day of the year(!), we were delighted to welcome back more than 70 recent leavers for our inaugural Next Steps event and what a brilliant reminder it was of the strength of our alumni community. With OCs aged 19 to 25 returning to share their experiences of their post-Churcher's journey, the evening was filled with conversation, advice and also catching up!

OCs spoke openly with Lower Sixth pupils about university life, apprenticeships, gap years, years in industry and first jobs, reassuring current students that there is no single “correct” path after school. If there was one message that came through loud and clear, it was this: progress is rarely a straight line. Unexpected turns, changes of direction and moments of uncertainty are not setbacks, but often the making of a fulfilling and enjoyable journey.

The formal part of the evening was followed by pizza and drinks for OCs under a marquee on Headmaster's Lawn, offering a chance to catch up with one another and staff. A relaxed and fun way to conclude the evening!

The event is a new initiative within the Futures programme to equip pupils with the confidence, insight and resilience they need as they take their next steps beyond Churcher’s. The willingness of so many OCs to give up their time so generously speaks volumes about their connection to the school and their desire to support the next generation.

It was, in every sense, an uplifting evening and proof that while our pupils may leave Churcher’s, they remain very much part of its story.