Our early years experiences start to shape our lives for the future. This trend continues into our adulthood, too. Every chapter of our lives has an impact on how we progress through life and affects what we do, which is why education planning is important.
As part of our fascinating ‘In Conversation With’ series, we were delighted to chat with Arabella Davies, founder of Their Best Years, who uses her years of experience to provide invaluable advice and guidance to parents in planning their children’s education.
An Interview Experience Workshop
Having established a successful career as a headhunter, matching people with companies and their dream jobs, Arabella left to raise her family. But it wasn’t long before she started to miss the buzz of meeting and interviewing people. Arabella wanted to do something where she could use her experience to help others.
A multitude of different ideas centred around her headhunting experience eventually led to her Interview Experience Workshop; a programme with a difference designed to help young people plan for their future.
Arabella set up her Workshop and worked with Sixth Form students in schools and colleges to advise and guide them in planning their future after school. From gap years and going to university to joining an apprenticeship and entering the workplace, students had the unique opportunity to learn from Arabella’s years of knowledge and experience. The success of her Interview Experience Workshop quickly evolved into expanding the programme to help students from a range of year groups, including younger children who were preparing for their years in prep school.
Relocation leads to Their Best Years
Students across the UK were lucky enough to learn from Arabella. But there was another advantage for Arabella and that was the huge insight into different schools, colleges and universities around the country, as well as the many children and their families. The mass of knowledge and skills she was gaining, and the relationships she was building meant that she soon became the ‘go-to’ person for advice and guidance on children’s education paths. But it was helping a friend, who was relocating from Hong Kong, to find the best school for their children that led to her starting her business, Their Best Years’
Their Best Years is all about helping families in the UK, and those relocating from overseas, to find the best schools. Arabella’s services are tailored individually for each child, making sure they have the right support and best experience during their educational years, and beyond. whilst in education. As Arabella says
“20 years on, we continue to focus on making sure our young people’s education is their best years; schooling should be their best years.”
What makes ‘Their Best Years’ different?
Their Best Years are driven by their parents. Arabella explains:
“I am very keen that the parents are in the driving seat. My role isn’t to replace teachers but to enhance and build on their vital work with students.”
Arabella knows that teachers already have their work cut out for them and are stretched at times. The advantage Arabella can give is that she has the time to dedicate herself to each family. She spends time getting to know every individual child and their parents, understanding their needs, their aspirations, which could be reflected in their own experience throughout their school years. What is important to Arabella is being able to guide the whole family.
“The parents are in the driving seat. My role is to help and give reassurance, to encourage them to be confident in doing something a little different; and sometimes step out of their parent’s comfort zone.”
As many parents know, choosing a school that is suitable for their children can be time-consuming and stressful. Not only are you trying to make sure your child has everything they need and the best education, it is also an important financial investment. Arabella’s wealth of knowledge, experience and expertise give you a valuable insight into the education sector, helping families decide on the right learning path for their children.
Find out more about Arabella and Their Best Years by listening to our full conversation today.
