Inspiring Students Through Representation and Real-World Connections
Declán Forster, Teacher of Mathematics and Outreach Programme Lead at Leeds Mathematics School, is passionate about showing students how the subjects they study every day can open doors to exciting and meaningful careers. Through F4S, Declán has found a way to make that connection tangible.
“The Virtual Assembly provided the ‘that is something that is quite interesting and that is something that uses maths, that I can study towards… these people are just like me,’ and that’s the kind of feeling we wanted to instill,” he shared. “Both assemblies from F4S really hit the nail on the head for us and our students, so we’ve had really good experiences with it.”
For Declán, F4S has become more than a careers platform — it’s a bridge between education and aspiration. By introducing students to professionals from diverse backgrounds and industries, Leeds Mathematics School has seen a noticeable increase in engagement and ambition, especially among groups who benefit most from relatable role models.
“We got the positive responses from the key students we wanted, specifically the girls, seeing this representation of themselves in the workplace,” Declán explained. “We got exactly what we wanted for those girls, which was seeing someone in industry and realising, ‘Oh, I can do this too’ — which is incredibly valuable for them.”
Making Career Learning Effortless and Impactful
One of the standout features for Declán is the ease and flexibility of joining Virtual Assemblies. The platform eliminates logistical challenges while still offering an engaging, interactive experience for students.
“The Virtual Assemblies are really useful — the impromptu nature of them and the ease of logistics is really good.”
Even in a virtual environment, students feel seen and heard. The ability to ask live questions to professionals makes the experience feel truly interactive and personal.
“Those students in particular (whose questions got answered), I could tell the feeling of being able to ask a question to the person loads of people are listening to, and have their question answered, was really positive for them. It feels interactive, and that they are part of that assembly rather than just watching a lecture.”
A Long-Term Partnership for Student Success
After seeing the positive impact F4S has made, Declán is eager to continue embedding it into his career’s provision.
“100% we’ll be continuing to use it because of the positive impact we’ve seen so far.”
Through F4S, Declán has been able to create memorable learning moments — ones that spark curiosity, challenge stereotypes, and open students’ eyes to what’s possible.
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🎥 Hear Declán’s full experience in our latest CPD session.
By connecting classrooms with real-world professionals, F4S empowers educators like Declán to bring learning to life — ensuring every student can see a future that feels both inspiring and attainable.
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