Careers and Higher Education team

We offer personalised guidance from Careers Development Institute (CDI) accredited advisers from when you apply until 3 years after you graduate. Our Careers and Higher Education support complements your academic goals and supports your future career aspirations. 

• Benefit from specialist advice on applying to university, apprenticeships, professional internships and gap year schemes
• Explore future education and career aspirations through experential learning and self-reflection
• Boost your professional skills including CV writing, presentation and interview skills

Our Careers and Higher Education team are listed below:

Helen Forey

The St Clare’s Careers Service is led by Helen Forey, Head of Careers. With our Careers & HE Adviser and Trainee Adviser, she supports St Clare’s students on both campuses in all aspects of application to university around the world, career exploration, assessment centres and interviews. She loves helping students to prepare to navigate the changing world of work and develop lifelong career management skills.

Helen studied modern languages at the Universities of Oxford, Cardiff, Passau and Champagne-Ardenne and became a member of the Institute of Linguists in 2003. In a 15-year career in the international classical music industry, she combined her love of classical music, languages, photography and design in editorial and creative marketing roles at Decca Music Group, EMI & Virgin Classics and was the Deputy Managing Director of a London media agency where she managed DVD production for European and American opera houses. She has a particular professional interest in international education and social justice, holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Career Development and Coaching Studies from the University of Warwick and is a member of the Career Development Institute and the International Association of College Admission Counselors.

In her free time she is a keen member of a traditional British brass band and enjoys inter-railing around Europe and walking in the Welsh countryside where she grew up.

Emily Spriggs

Emily is one of our University and Career Counsellors. She joined St Clare’s in 2022 as a Trainee Careers and Higher Education Adviser and has since completed her Postgraduate Certificate in Career Development Work at the University of Warwick whilst working with us. Emily supports students on our IB world school campus with university applications and career exploration, as well as the organisation of career-related events. Emily also has key responsibility for the Pre-IB cohort.

Emily studied Psychology for her undergraduate degree at the University of Portsmouth. She has previously worked in the NHS supporting the delivery of psychological interventions for people with chronic health conditions and has experience working in a special educational needs school supporting children with learning difficulties.

In her spare time, she enjoys travelling around the world, hiking in the Lake District, and playing netball for her local team.

Virginia Irwin

Virginia joined St Clare’s in 2024 as a University and Career Counsellor. She enjoys helping students to find the best opportunities for their studies and careers after school.

She started her career teaching English in Spain, Australia, Thailand, Hungary and Latvia and then worked in two UK universities managing pre-degree programmes and representing the universities overseas in the Central and East Asia regions. She previously worked as a college counsellor in two IB schools in Asia.

She has a post-graduate degree in English Literature from the University of Warwick and an MBA from the University of Nottingham. In her free time, she likes hiking and visiting historical places.