The High Commissioner of Zambia in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) 're-visited' the School in February. A number of students were lucky enough to enjoy a talk by former student, Carolyn Davidson, who told the girls about her life in the FCO and her career as a globe-trotting diplomat. Carolyn shared some fascinating stories with the girls about her time in Japan where she served as an interpreter for Margaret Thatcher and Prince Philip, her trip down a German salt mine with the European Select Committee, her appearance on the Slovak version of 'Newsnight' and her many meetings with the President of Zambia.

Carolyn’s varied role sees her tackling a broad range of challenges from visa/migration issues and UK trade overseas, to counter terrorism and conflict resolution. She studied French and German at Bristol University and now speaks five languages, although she stressed to students that you do not need to be a linguist to pursue a career in the FCO.

Carolyn enthused that her time at Manchester High helped to give her the confidence to achieve anything that she wanted; she encouraged her audience to go out and do the same.