Alumni
Belvidere’s relationship with our students shouldn’t end when they celebrate their GCSE results. We would like encourage them to stay in touch and help inspire our current students.
We love hearing how our past pupils are getting on and welcome their success stories. If you are an ex-student of Belvidere School, no matter how long ago, and would like to share your news, memories or photos with us and see them featured on this website please email the school reception@belvidereschool.co.uk
Include the year you left Belvidere, a short paragraph on what you have done since you left and a picture if possible.
Kristian Leah - Left in 2013
Kristian was nominated for the High Sheriff of Shropshire’s outstanding young citizenship Award 2013. This was awarded to him for reliably working as a young volunteer for over 12 months, at the Smile Club, New lodge youth centre. He has a very willing attitude and has built a great relationship with the disabilities group, helping them once a week. He also volunteers once a week with the after school junior club. WOW!
For this High Sheriff award he attended a ceremony with local dignitaries, and Mrs Parsons, at Shrewsbury College.
Jessica Lester - Left in 2011
The first thing that comes to my mind when I think of Belvidere is that I created friendships and enjoyed going on school trips. I enjoyed doing different activities, especially in PE. I still see a few people around that I met at Belvidere.
After leaving school and college, I was a Healthcare Assistant for Nurse Plus UK Ltd but I have now left Nurse Plus and I am currently working at a Special Needs School where I am helping make a difference working with children with different types of disabilities and difficulties.
I am currently completing my Maths and English GCSE at Shrewsbury College. I wished I had worked a little harder to gain my Maths and English GCSE when I was at Belvidere so I don't have to keep trying now! I would advise the students at Belvidere to be themselves, work hard, do well in their GCSE's and don't follow the crowd. Soon you will be in the big wide world with lots of responsibilities.
Cal Halbert - Left in 2009
What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Belvidere?
Mr Thomas and I singing constantly on the Berlin Trip.
What did you enjoy about Belvidere School?
It's hard to put it down to one thing. All in all, I had a fantastic time but I will always be biased to Mrs Young and Drama!
What do you miss the most?
Having no major concerns, worries or problems to deal with and whenever there was one of these things, the fantastic support network at Belivdere, friends and staff alike!
Did you make friends at Belvidere who are still friends today?
A few, but I lost contact with the majority of people when I moved away.
What did you do after you left School?
After Belvidere I studied at Shrewsbury Sixth Form College. Once finished I move to Newcastle Upon Tyne.
Where are you now? What are you doing?
I'm now based in Newcastle Upon Tyne and working as a Comedian and Impressionist all over the country and globe!
If you could do it again what would you do differently?
I don't think so, hindsight is a remarkable thing, pointing out things left right and centre, but I doubt I would be the way I am without Belvidere School.
What advice would you give to students about making the most of their time at Belvidere/career/exams/gap year/ambition\etc.?
You can tell a lot about people from what they worry about, so don't panic about things. Also, there's no such thing as talent, hard work is all you need!
Sophie Linney - Left in 2009
What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Belvidere?
Lifelong friendships, indie music and school trips to Alton Towers!
What did you enjoy about Belvidere School?
The year 11 history trip to Berlin! Spending a few days away with good friends in a different county is something I will always remember.
What do you miss the most?
Having little responsibility and the all the holidays!
Did you make friends at Belvidere who are still friends today?
Of course! I am still friends with people I met at Belvidere.
What did you do after you left School?
After Belvidere I went to Shrewsbury Sixth Form College where I studied A Levels in Graphic Design, Sociology and health and Social Care. I then went to University to do my degree where I gained a 2:1 in Adult Nursing BSc (Hons).
Where are you now? What are you doing?
After graduating from university I was offered two jobs. I am working as a Registered Nurse at the Severn Hospice and Gynaecology where I am the end of life link worker. Although working shifts in these areas can be tiring and emotionally difficult, nursing is a wonderful career which I find rewarding.
If you could do it again what would you do differently?
I would probably have stressed over the little things in life less. Although GCSEs can seem stressful where you’re in the middle of them, I think it’s important you enjoy your time at secondary school because they really are some of the best years of your life.
What advice would you give to students about making the most of their time at Belvidere/career/exams/gap year/ambition\etc.?
Not to let anyone tell you something is impossible! If you want something I believe with hard work and perseverance anything is possible!
Jack Harrison - Left in 2008
What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Belvidere?
The Sue Herbert centre- it was me and my friends’ shelter from the rain, ‘common room’, and venue for all manner of teenage ‘debates’ and fun.
What were the phrases, films, trends, etc. when you were at School?
Phrases such as ‘wicked’ and ‘cool’ seemed big, whilst ‘lol’ and ‘lmao’ were pretty cutting edge...I remember watching various films such as the Lord of the Rings, King Kong and the Mummy, all of which looked like they had amazing special effects back then, but which are dated now. Me and my friends all had regrettably long hair and liked to wear surf/skate brand t shirts most of the time, which also seems very dated.
What did you enjoy about Belvidere School?
I enjoyed the teaching style- being able to learn plenty, whilst having (some) fun in the process. Long cross country runs around the field in winter and sports day in the Summer were tiring but a good laugh. However, the things I enjoyed most were the spontaneous situations which arose from growing up in such a friendly and diverse environment.
What student activities were you involved in?
I played an instrument in the school orchestra and marching band, as well as playing in the band for the school plays. I completed my Duke of Edinburgh Bronze and Silver awards which were great fun. I went on as many school trips as I could, managing to make it to Berlin and Belgium on history trips, the year 7 French trip and skiing in the Italian alps, all of which were unforgettable experiences.
What do you miss the most?
Being a teenager in a swirling environment of multiple backgrounds, personalities, and ages, where every day brought some new experience or story.
What memories stick out in your mind?
Coming to enjoy P.E more and more as I found things I could excel at in amongst all the different sports- the 400m at sports day became my specialty! The initial anxiety and frustration of not understanding maths turning to satisfaction as I was taught to enjoy and properly use it will always remain one of my favorite progressions over my five years at Belvidere. Trying to come up with appropriate accents and modern reinterpretations of Shakespeare (the less said the better).
Did you make friends at Belvidere who are still friends today?
I am still very good friends with almost all of the friends I made at Belvidere- we all still regularly meet up to catch up on what we are now doing and reminisce about our time at school.
What did you do after you left School?
Immediately after leaving school I went to Sixth Form College, where I studied Physics, Chemistry, English Literature and History.
After college, I went to study History at the historic university of Durham.
Where are you now?
I graduated from Durham this year (2013) and have now secured a ‘training contract’ with a leading commercial law firm in London. I am currently studying a one year law conversion course in Birmingham. After six months off to go travelling next year, I will be moving down to London to do another seven month long course, before starting work for two years at my firm’s London office to ‘train on the job’ as a commercial lawyer.
What are you doing? (Is it what you thought you would be doing? Or what the School thought you would be doing?)
I am becoming a lawyer. I have always been interested in a career in Law: the school encouraged this interest, and helped me to get work experience at the Crown and Magistrates courts when I was 15, which was a very valuable experience. Throughout my time at school, no career was ‘mapped out’ for me- I was simply encouraged to pursue and achieve in as many of my interests and strengths as I could, which was a great approach to take, and one which enabled me to make up my own mind about where I would end up. Belvidere provided me with as much help in achieving my goals as I could ask for though!
If you could do it again what would you do differently?
I wish I had made more of an effort learning and continuing with the variety of foreign languages on offer at Belvidere, as these are fundamental to expanding the reach of later life. Like most people, I used to be a bit chatty in lessons- something I regret doing having now had the experience of often speaking in front of others and coaching sport- having a chatterbox makes life a lot harder. School is one of the few times you will have so many knowledgeable, friendly and accessible teachers all in one place, so don’t squander it chatting in lessons and making their life more difficult.
What advice would you give to students about making the most of their time at Belvidere/career/exams/gap year/ambition\etc.?
Everyone has different aims and ambitions, so it is difficult to make catch all statements to help out all students, but that is sort of the point: everyone has their niche and strength- use your time at school to find where you ‘fit in’. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes and to try things you never thought you would enjoy in a million years. It’s often these sorts of things which will later come back to you as your most useful experiences. Whatever you end up doing, the early years from school to your first job are the some of the most important you will get; learning never stops and you’ll end up making the best friends and having some of the best experiences you’ll ever have along the way. So...make the most of it!
Naomi Shingler - Left in 2008
What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Belvidere?
The Sue Herbert Centre and all the friends that I made at school. In the middle of year 7, I became friends with a different group of people who went to other primary schools and we would spend every break and lunch time inside/outside the Sue Herbert Centre. We’re all still friends now and I know we will be for a long time.
What did you enjoy about Belvidere School?
Other than the social side of school and making friends, I enjoyed the variety of subjects that were available. The teachers were brilliant and always made lessons exciting and interesting. I thoroughly enjoyed year 10 and 11 where we were able to choose our GCSE subjects and start to learn about things that you really interested in. We also had the opportunity to go on several school trips throughout the five years, which I was lucky enough to do. For our history GCSE, we went to Berlin which was fantastic. Mr Thomas and the other teachers made the trips fun and exciting and we learnt a great deal.
What student activities were you involved in?
I was part of the netball team in the first few years of school but concentrated on my subjects once I started my GCSEs. I liked to stay behind and do more work on my coursework in Art and Product Design.
What do you miss the most?
I miss all the spare time that I had at school and not seeing my friends as much. I would spend every day with my friends however now, I see some of them only once every few months because of everyone’s busy schedules.
What did you do after you left School?
I went to Shrewsbury Sixth Form College for 2 years where I completed A levels in Psychology, Health and Social care and Biology. I then moved to Brighton in 2010 and did a 3 year Adult Nursing Honours Degree. I have recently graduated with a 2:2 and have started my first job as a nurse at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital which I am thoroughly enjoying. I always knew I wanted to work in healthcare, originally wanting to be a midwife but am pleased with the choice I made. I get to meet so many different, interesting people and support and care for patients and their families. It is a very rewarding job.
If you could do it again what would you do differently?
I think everyone would say they wish they had worked a little bit harder at school which is what I would have done differently however I still think it is important to enjoy yourself and be a child while you can!
What advice would you give to students about making the most of their time at Belvidere/career/exams/gap year/ambition\etc.?
I would advise to be yourself and not follow the crowd! This is something I learned in my first year at school and I have definitely benefited from it. Find out who you are and where you fit and most importantly enjoy the time you have! Soon enough you’ll be in the big wide world and have a lot of responsibilities.
Marcus Taylor - Left in 2006
What student activities were you involved in?
I was in the school orchestra, and went on several trips abroad with them. In the earlier years I also took part in some drama productions. Unfortunately I have no sporting activities or achievements to record!
What do you miss the most?
Short hours and long holidays!
What memories stick out in your mind?
Seeing all of my friends every day and not realising how difficult this would be once we all went our separate ways.
Did you make friends at Belvidere who are still friends today?
Yes, I still have close friendships with a number of former pupils.
What did you do after you left School?
I went to 6th form and did my A-levels. Following this I went to Keele University and studied medicine for 5 years, graduating as a doctor in July 2013.
Where are you now?
Although I lived in Newcastle-under-Lyme whilst I was at university, I am currently living and working in Shrewsbury once again.
What are you doing? (Is it what you thought you would be doing? Or what the School thought you would be doing?)
I am currently working as a doctor at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital. This is my first job after finishing medical school in July 2013. Being a doctor is what I always said I wanted to do, and people at school always encouraged me to pursue this career.
If you could do it again what would you do differently?
I would have tried to appreciate the carefree time I spent with all my friends a lot more.
What advice would you give to students about making the most of their time at Belvidere - career/exams/gap year/ambition\etc.?
Make sure you work hard and achieve your potential, but don’t neglect the extracurricular activities and friendships that make you a well-rounded and well liked individual.
Gareth Owen - Left in 1994
What did you do after you left School?
Gareth Owen is a former student at Belvidere who left in 1994 and went
on to study English, Politics and History at Shrewsbury Sixth Form College. After completing his A-Levels in 1996, he took a year out of education to earn some money for his studies, and to present radio programmes on a variety of local stations. In 1997 he began a History degree at Cardiff University, graduating in 2001.
He spent around six months standing in as the News Editor on Sunshine 855 radio in Ludlow, before deciding to get some formal training in
journalism. He completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Broadcast Journalism at Birmingham City University in 2002.
Where are you now?
Gareth won a trainee contract with ITV Central and has been there ever since. He is now a familiar face to viewers in the Midlands as an anchor presenter and news correspondent on ITV Central Tonight. He started as a "Production Journalist", and has worked his way up to the role of Senior Correspondent. He also stands-in as the main presenter, and occasionally edits the programme. He works as Sport Correspondent and Political Correspondent, and edits the monthly political discussion programme in Westminster.
In addition to his roles in regional news, Gareth works as a reporter and
producer on the ITV National news, as a Correspondent with ITV Daybreak, and as a reporter on ITV Sport's FA Cup coverage.
What advice would you give to students about making the most of their time at Belvidere - career/exams/gap year/ambition\etc.?
Believe in yourself and have the confidence to reach for your dreams.
Phil Lowry - Left in 1989
Went to Coventry University and completed a European Business and technology degree.
First job was selling finance for NWS bank. He then worked in recruitment for 3 1/2 years between Manpower and Extra Personnel.
In August 1999 with a small group of business partners, he set up Proactive Personnel
To date, they have 10 branches across the Midlands, North West and Shropshire with an approximate turnover of £30 million.
In his spare time, he is obsessed with running, completing several half marathons and the Edinburgh Marathon. In August 2013, he ran 120 miles over 5 days in the Rockies, Colarado.