In an exciting first for Oswestry School, Old Oswestrians and members of the local business community joined forces for a networking event that took professional development to a new level.

Designed to give Upper Sixth pupils hands on experience in the art of networking in a professional environment, the hour long session was attended by volunteers who chatted with pupils in a real-world platform to practise their conversational and professional networking skills.

With more than 50 attendees, the event buzzed with energy as pupils confidently introduced themselves, asked thoughtful questions, and began forming genuine connections.

The networking hour followed a highly successful, bespoke networking skills training day funded by the Old Oswestrian Society. Delivered by local firm Martin & Jones Marketing, the training equipped pupils with practical tools focused on LinkedIn, effective communication, professional presence, and making a memorable first impression.

Lara Mabe, Chair of the Old Oswestrian Society, shared the motivation behind the initiative: “We wanted to support this training because these added skills will help all our pupils to get on in life.”

The impact was clear from the pupils’ reactions:

“I really enjoyed this and felt that I networked very well,” one pupil reflected.

Another added, “I came away feeling more confident in myself to hold a mature conversation with people in the ‘real world’.”

The success of this event marks an exciting step in preparing Oswestry School pupils for life beyond the classroom, in recognition of the School motto: "We learn not for school, but for life."