Future Pathways Across the Middle East
Jamie-Leigh Smith, Future Pathways Network Lead - ISP Middle East, and Head of University & Careers Guidance, and IBDP CAS Coordinator at Aspen Heights British School shares her experience leading Future Pathways for the region.
If you’d told me a few years ago - when I was still teaching primary - that I’d one day be supporting schools across the Middle East in shaping their careers and university guidance programmes, I probably wouldn’t have believed you. Yet, here we are - building something meaningful, intentional, and deeply student-centred together!
Over the past year, it’s been a genuine privilege to connect with the brilliant people behind each ISP school’s Future Pathways team. From virtual coaching calls to shared resources and planning sessions, it’s clear that Future Pathways isn’t just a regional initiative - it’s a shared vision. A vision rooted in the belief that every student, from EYFS to Year 13, deserves consistent, high-quality guidance that helps them explore who they are, where they’re going, and how they’ll get there.
At the core of our work is the ISP Future Pathways Roadmap - a strategic vision that ensures career-related learning is not left to chance, but built deliberately across all key stages. From that, we’ve developed curriculum maps and Key Stage Portfolios to support schools in embedding this vision practically, ensuring consistency while allowing for local adaptation and innovation.
At Aspen Heights British School, where I’m based, we've been proud to lead the way in bringing this vision to life. Key progress this year at Aspen includes:
- The integration of Unifrog in Key Stage 3 and beyond, providing students with a digital space to explore, reflect, and research
- The launch of whole-school curriculum maps aligned with the CDI framework, Gatsby Benchmarks, local policy, and the ISP Life Competencies
- The creation of structured coaching and shared planning tools to guide implementation at each stage
- The roll-out of Key Stage Portfolios, supporting every student in building a personal, reflective journey from EYFS to Year 13
In my regional role as Future Pathways Network Lead, I’m now working to support other ISP schools in doing the same - whether that’s through personalised coaching, collaborative planning sessions, or simply creating opportunities to share best practice across our network. Every school has its own story and context, but the collective commitment across our region is clear - and incredibly exciting.
Of course, Future Pathways is about more than just university destinations. It’s about nurturing students holistically. Whether through IBDP CAS projects, student-led service learning, or regional initiatives like the Sheikh Sultan Award, our young people are developing into compassionate, resilient, globally-minded individuals - ready to make an impact.
One standout story is Kirill, a Year 13 student from Aspen Heights, who is heading to the University of Sheffield to study Engineering - supported by the ISP University Partner Scholarship. His journey is a perfect example of what happens when Future Pathways is embedded, personalised, and supported every step of the way.
As we move into a new academic year, I’m particularly looking forward to visiting each ISP school in the region in person. While it’s been a joy connecting online, there’s nothing like being in your school environments - seeing your Future Pathways work in action, listening to your students, and hearing directly from your teams. These visits will be all about celebrating, collaborating, and continuing to grow together.
To learn more about our global university partnerships, including the ISP Partner Scholarship that supported Kirill, visit the Future Pathways tile on Sharepoint.
Thank you to everyone who has welcomed me into this role so far. The strength of our Future Pathways programme lies in the passion, innovation, and shared purpose we’re building across the Middle East.
Let’s keep shaping futures - together!
.jpg)
