All Saints' Academy Cheltenham

Rhiannon Watts left All Saints’ Academy in 2017, having studied History, Spanish and English Literature at A Level. Reflecting on her time at the school, she describes a supportive and enriching environment that helped shape both her academic interests and her future career path.

A supportive and enriching school experience

Rhiannon attended All Saints’ Academy from Year 8 through to Year 11 before continuing into Sixth Form. She recalls her GCSE years in particular as a formative period, where she felt consistently supported both academically and personally.

When choosing a Sixth Form, Rhiannon was looking for a school that offered a strong sense of community alongside a wide range of extracurricular opportunities. After exploring her options locally, she ultimately chose to stay at All Saints’, drawn to the freedom it offered students to pursue their interests and manage their own time.

“I just really liked the freedom that I had to pursue things that I was actually really interested in and manage my own time,” she reflects.

Getting involved beyond the classroom

One of Rhiannon’s standout memories of All Saints’ is the breadth of extracurricular opportunities available. She embraced school life fully, contributing to the ASA Today newspaper, attending the Cheltenham Literature Festival, and helping to organise events such as the Sixth Form prom.

She also took part in educational trips, including a memorable visit to Berlin with the History Department, which she describes as “an amazing city to visit as a student.”

These experiences helped her develop confidence, independence and a broader perspective beyond the classroom.

University and early career path

After completing her A Levels, Rhiannon took a gap year. During this time, she travelled across Central America, where she further developed her Spanish language skills and gained valuable life experience.

She then went on to study History at Cardiff University, later completing a master’s degree in the subject. Following university, she relocated to London and began pursuing a career in public policy.

Rhiannon joined the UK Civil Service through its competitive Fast Stream graduate programme, which has been recognised as one of the country’s leading graduate employers.

Working in public policy

Rhiannon now works in the Department of Health and Social Care as a Supply Continuity Policy Manager. In this role, she focuses on ensuring the resilience of medicines and medical supply chains into the UK.

Her work involves analysing global risks such as climate change, industrial action and labour shortages, and developing strategies to minimise disruption to critical healthcare supplies.

“Healthcare is something that really impacts people’s everyday lives,” she explains. “It’s a privilege to know that what you are doing is making an impact behind the scenes.”

Advice for future students

Rhiannon encourages students interested in the Civil Service or public sector careers to explore the wide range of opportunities available.

While policy work is often the most visible aspect of government, she highlights roles across communications, economics, strategy, HR and data analysis.

She also emphasises that there is no single required degree path but advises students to stay informed about current affairs and develop an understanding of how the country is run.

Finally, she stresses the value of gaining experience early on.

“Take every opportunity you can. Work experience and internships are really useful, not only for standing out, but for helping you figure out what you actually enjoy doing day to day.”

Interview conducted in 2023.