3rd Sep 2025
As we approach our centenary year at Belmont House School, we wanted to look back, and reconnect with former pupils, near and far. Here we have seven thoughtful questions that we ask our alumni focusing on their lives, successes, and the school’s influence.
Name: Graeme Whiteford
Time period as a pupil at Belmont House: 10 years
Current Occupation: Senior Manager – Leadership & Talent Development, BAE Systems Plc
How did your time at Belmont House School shape your career path?
The school armed me with the interpersonal skills, behaviours, ambition, confidence and academic qualifications required to progress firstly to university and then into the wider world of work.
Can you share a key moment or memory from your time at Belmont that had a lasting impact on you?
Becoming a Prefect at Belmont House had a lasting impact on me as it gave me a first taste of responsibility and duty. I learned through this experience that responsibility is something that is earned based on consistent performance and behaviours over a sustained period of time.
What skills or lessons learned at Belmont have been most valuable in your professional life?
The high standards which Belmont House set e.g. wearing a uniform, being timely, being disciplined, having a strong work ethic and good behavioural standards have all been extremely valuable in my professional life. Attending school with pupils from a variety of different cultures and ethnicities also prepared me well for working for a global business.
In what ways did Belmont House School’s community or culture contribute to your personal growth?
The culture at the school was always respectful and enabled me to develop some amazing relationships over the years. Working hard and achieving positive results was always encouraged – this provided me with a drive to succeed. Above all else, I always felt safe and welcome at the school – this is something that I always try to instil for teams in the workplace.
Can you describe how Belmont’s teachers or extracurricular activities helped shape your future ambitions?
The teachers at Belmont House definitely went above and beyond. In particular, I recall fondly Mr Orr’s Thursday night football, Mr Orr’s Summer Schools and Mr Anderson’s Hillwalking Club. These experiences brought great variety to my life at the time and more so the opportunity to connect and work as part of a team. They really did inspire me to pursue a career which involved developing others.
What advice would you give to current Belmont students who want to follow a similar path to yours?
Career paths these days are not as straightforward as they used to be – many of the jobs of the future don’t even exist yet! That’s exciting! I’ve been lucky to have had multiple career experiences with a single employer which has provided me with some amazing experiences and a great life outside of work. Your path will unfold organically but will ultimately depend on you doing a solid job (the what) with exemplar behaviours (the how). For now, just focus on working hard, gaining the best results possible and seek out every opportunity possible to develop the softer skills which employers more so than ever are now seeking.
Looking back, how do you feel Belmont House School prepared you for the challenges and opportunities you’ve faced in life?
There is no doubt that Belmont House set me up well for the challenges and opportunities of life. Ultimately, the school provided me with the opportunity to be the best version of myself. The support provided at the school was exceptional and the opportunities provided in the margins were fundamental to my overall development. I feel very privileged to have attended the school and thank everyone that played a part in supporting my journey.
Our thanks to Graeme for sharing their experiences – would you like to feature as part of our Alumni of Belmont House School?
Please feel free to get in touch with Richard Doak via email: RDoak@belmontschool.co.uk
