Pupils from Cressex Community School in High Wycombe have visited Buckinghamshire New University to quiz leading female lecturers and staff for International Women’s Day.

The female pupils, aged 14 and 15, from the school, in Holmer Lane, enjoyed an hour’s question-and-answer session with a panel including Professor Julie McLeod, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Education, at the University.

The pupils asked questions ranging from what inspired the panel to take up their roles; the qualifications needed for their careers; to which careers they would have pursued had they opted for a different job.

Prof McLeod was joined by the University’s HR Director Alexandra Bode-Tunji; Lauren O’Shea, President of Bucks New University’s Students’ Union; and Pia Carnegie, Course Leader for its Master’s degree in Human Resource Management.

This year’s International Women's Day theme is ‘Balance for Better’, aiming for a more gender-balanced world.

Prof McLeod said: “Bucks New University is an educational partner of the school and it was a pleasure to welcome the pupils and pass on some of our range of experience. I hope it will benefit the pupils in the future.”

David Hood, Headteacher of Cressex Community School, said: “We were very pleased to be invited to this landmark event at Bucks New University and our students had a thoroughly informative and enjoyable experience.”