Behind the Scenes at Bancroft’s: Suzanne Brough – Sixth Form, HE & Careers Officer
With our Sixth Form Open Evening now behind us, it's the perfect time to highlight the staff who play a key role in supporting students throughout their Sixth Form journey.
We recently spoke with Suzanne Brough, a valued member of the Bancroft’s team who has been part of our community for 16 years.
Suzanne started her journey in the Exams Department, where she spent over a decade managing the logistics. Five years ago, she embraced a new challenge, moving into the Careers Department. Now, she reflects on her journey and the exciting changes she’s been part of.
Suzanne has certainly enjoyed the variety in her work, especially organising events that involve inviting other schools to Bancroft’s.
It’s wonderful to invite other schools in for different events, as well as universities and companies. I love that part of my job.
A particular highlight is the annual University Fair, an important event Suzanne has seen grow over the years. “The University Fair has been running since 2018. I remember our Head of Sixth Form at the time said, ‘I think I would like to run a University Fair.’ And that was it we just put it together. We had 20 universities for our first event and this year we had 60.”
The event welcomes not just universities but also businesses like Amazon, and for the first time this year, parents from the Fifth and Lower Sixth were invited, which was a great success.
In addition to the University Fair, the Careers Department hosts several key events throughout the year. Suzanne spoke about the Competitive Futures Workshop held each February: “We run a workshop with four top universities to discuss applying to their programs. We invite schools to bring in their top students, and it’s a great way to build relationships. We now have 10 schools involved.”
Suzanne also mentioned the partnership with St Pauls Way, Sir George Monoux, and the Draper’s Academy for the annual Law Day, where students get to visit the courts and even reenact a court case.
Beyond events, Suzanne plays a crucial role in guiding Sixth Form students through the UCAS application process.
The most rewarding part of my job is definitely helping students with their UCAS applications.
“It’s a big part of my time from September to January. I review all the details, check qualifications, and collect references,” she explained. “It’s exciting when the offers come in and you see their smiling faces.”
Suzanne is particularly proud of the annual apprenticeship evening, which has grown significantly since its start as a virtual event. “In the first year, we had just three people attend. Last year, we had 78 online participants. It’s really encouraging to see that growing interest,” she said.
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A standout event in the careers calendar is the fortnightly lecture series, which gives students valuable insights into different career paths. “One highlight for me was securing Simon Singh as a speaker. I’d been inviting him since 2008, and this year, he finally agreed to visit the school.”
Suzanne’s contributions to the school’s careers programme have been invaluable. From UCAS support to organising large-scale events, her role is full of variety and reward. Each year, results day brings a sense of fulfillment. “It’s always a good day when you see them smiling with their results; it makes all the challenges worth it.”
We’re grateful to Suzanne for sharing her insights and for the incredible support she gives to our pupils. She really is a wonderful part of the Bancroft’s team.
