4th Jun 2026
Join us as we speak with former pupil, Simon Fraser, to reflect on their memories, achievements, and how the school helped prepare them for the future.
Name: Simon Fraser
Time period as a pupil at Belmont House: 2013 – 2021
Current Occupation: Graduate Aeronautical Engineer
How did your time at Belmont House School shape your career path?
The environment at Belmont encouraged and catered to my affinity for the sciences. I was fortunate to have so many amazing teachers and mentors, who guided me along every step of
my studies, encouraged me to take part in extracurriculars, and celebrated my successes. The school provided a fantastic foundation to anchor into as a teenager and developed my confidence, initiative, and independence. These traits were essential for overcoming the challenges of studying Aeronautical Engineering at Masters level, especially in taking initiative to make the most of my time at university.
Can you share a key moment or memory from your time at Belmont that had a lasting impact on you?
I remember applying for Engineering at Cambridge in S6 and having overwhelming support from several staff. Mr. Maguire was integral in preparing my personal statement, application, and organising the admin involved in the entrance exam. Mr. Cavers spent many lunches practising past papers with me so I could do my best answering questions from a different curriculum. Mr. Doak always had time for me and gave me sound advice on many occasions. Although unsuccessful in my application, getting to the interview stage and having the support I did demonstrated that even when it comes to ambitious applications or events, always to try your best no matter the odds. I took this forward into University and applied this mindset to my dissertation, where I was selected to represent the University of Glasgow at the 22nd PEGASUS Student conference.
What skills or lessons learned at Belmont have been most valuable in your professional life?
Belmont taught me many things but the most valuable were two-fold, technical skill in maths and physics, and soft skills like communication, teamwork, and leadership. At University the ability to work well in groups, communicate effectively, and having the confidence and clarity to be able to present well took me very far. I was able to secure two summer internships, as well as winning first prize at the annual PEGASUS Student conference thanks to these skills.
In what ways did Belmont House School’s community or culture contribute to your personal growth?
The culture of togetherness and striving for excellence really propelled me to fulfil my potential and take every opportunity afforded to me. Achievements were always celebrated and teachers worked hard to ensure we had every resource possible to do the best we could. This culture impressed on me and stuck with me throughout the challenges and successes I had at university. Hard work is necessary for any course, but taking the time to celebrate and recognise my achievements provided me the motivation required to succeed.
Can you describe how Belmont’s teachers or extracurricular activities helped shape your future ambitions?
The teachers at Belmont are second to none, each one genuinely cares about the success of their students and never shy away from offering additional support and resources when needed. S6 was a tricky year for me in the midst of COVID, but studying for my Advanced Highers gave me some much-needed structure and consistency amongst the chaos of the time. Mr. Cavers and Mr. White always encouraged my interest in Physics and Biology, always happy to engage in discussions and teach me things beyond the scope of the curriculum. Mrs. McCarry managed to keep my waning interest in Mathematics alive long enough to see out Advanced Higher, which set me up quite well for a degree in Engineering. Mrs. Smart always supported excellent choir and school dramatic productions, a passion of mine which I’ve retained with recent amateur dramatic performances in Sunshine on Leith, and We Will Rock You. I always felt like there were opportunities to explore at Belmont, whether it be in PE, the arts, languages or science, things I’ve taken with me by not being afraid to try new things.
What advice would you give to current Belmont students who want to follow a similar path to yours?
Make use of the resources at your disposal, if studying Engineering make sure you pay full attention to understanding your Maths and Physics at Higher and Advanced Higher to ease the transition into University. Practice trying new things whilst you have the opportunity, join a club or extracurricular you’ve never thought of joining so you’re not afraid to find your community at University by joining societies. It’s also important not to neglect your hobbies/interests whilst undertaking further study, as building a good work/life balance is necessary for enduring the challenges of a 4 or 5 year Engineering degree. Finally, start thinking about life after University sooner rather than later, the graduate job market is particularly sparse at the moment so apply for Internships and Insight Weeks early in your degree. Often these roles come with near automatic or fast-tracked applications to return at a later date!
Looking back, how do you feel Belmont House School prepared you for the challenges and opportunities you’ve faced in life?
The support system available to me was second to none, it helped build the foundations of self-confidence and work ethic required to achieve my goals. It gave me a structure and comprehensive approach to learning, which I took into University and led to several successes along the way. I was able to secure two summer internships whilst studying, as well as be selected to attend and win first prize at the PEGASUS Student conference for my dissertation. Both of these opportunities were optional to my study, but my time at Belmont encouraged me to find and try things outside essential study.
Our thanks to Simon 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
