Archbishop Temple School Alumni
What are they doing now?
Name: Tom Simpson
What year did you leave? 2012
Qualifications.
GCSEs: English Language, English Literature, Maths, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, History, Geography, Spanish, IT, RE
A Levels/BTEC: Maths, Economics, Physics (A Levels) and Computing (AS Level)
Other Qualifications/Training: Bsc Economics (International)
Current Role: Software Developer
My story
As someone who’s always been sport obsessed, PE was always the lesson I looked forward to most at school, but I also enjoyed analytical subjects like maths and physics because I preferred working towards a definite correct answer. My standout memories are of going on some school trips with my best friends – I went on the ski trip, the Geography trip to Barcelona and the History trip to the battlefields in Belgium and France. It was amazing to be able to go and see first hand some of the places we’d been learning about.
In terms of advice, I can remember being encouraged to take as many opportunities that come my way as I can, because you never know what doors it could open for you. This is actually something I also got told when I started my first job after university.
After I finished at Archbishop Temple School, I went on to study for my A-Levels at Newman College. I chose to study subjects which would compliment each other to keep my options open for when I went on to apply for university. While I was at Newman I played for the basketball academy, and I can’t recommend getting involved in extra-curricular activities enough. It introduced me to new people, gave me something to focus on outside my studies and was a great way to break up the week. I then went on to study Economics at the University of Leeds for three years, and I did an additional year at the University of Wisconsin in America as part of my university degree. This was an unbelievable opportunity to step out of my comfort zone and experience living abroad. While I was there I met someone who worked in technology, and was really interested in the work he was doing. Talking to him about his work inspired me to want to do something similar, so after I graduated university I applied for a job as a software developer at a professional services company based in Manchester. I’ve now been working there for just over 2 years and am really enjoying it. I make apps and websites for other businesses to use to help them perform better. The most enjoyable things about my job are the feeling of satisfaction I get when I finally solve a problem to get something working on an app, and being able to understand how the apps we all know like Instagram, Uber and Deliveroo work beneath what you see on your phone!
My advice to you:
- Don’t worry if you don’t know what you want to do next. If you aren’t sure what subjects to take for GCSEs, A Levels, BTEC or university then choose the subjects you enjoy most or the ones you’re most interested in. The more you enjoy it the more likely you are to do well.
- Take as many opportunities that come your way as you can. See them as an opportunity to learn things and pick up skills you wouldn’t get from the classroom e.g. join a sports club or pick up a hobby outside school. This will also introduce you to new people who you might never meet otherwise, and these contacts might come in useful in future!
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