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.