A leading Consultant Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon dazzled budding medical students at the Dame Allan’s Schools’ Futures Fair this month. 

Though trained across all areas of head and neck surgery, Mr Robert Banks focuses on facial deformity, salivary gland disease, temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ) surgery, and implant rehabilitation after cancer surgery.  He has been involved in delivering training and education at all levels; published a number of scientific papers and presentations; contributed chapters to several medical books; and currently chairs the Consultant Committee of the British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, as well as being UK representative to the European Association of Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgeons.

Taking up residence in one of the science labs, Mr Banks talked at length about the unique route through both medical and dental studies which leads to a career in oral and maxillofacial surgery. He brought with him key pieces of equipment used in surgery, a replica skull and a laparoscopic training box used to teach trainee surgeons how to perform keyhole surgery.

Mr Banks was one of over 80 leading figures, businesses, universities and apprenticeship providers who were at the Dame Allan’s Schools Futures Fair to encourage students to think outside the box when it comes to their future careers.

In the weeks which saw Education Secretary Damian Hinds pledge £24m to boost social mobility and job prospects for young people in the region, careers advice is a particularly topical part of the debate surrounding education at the moment.

The biennial event is open to Dame Allan’s students from Year 7 to 13, as well as visiting students from schools across the North East. This year, students from St Thomas More School Blaydon, Percy Hedley School, and Walker Technology College were among just some of the students who benefited from the event.

Principal of Dame Allan’s Schools Dr John Hind said: “The Education Secretary’s latest announcement mirrors a philosophy we’ve long held at Dame Allan’s, that a focus on future careers is imperative to good education. Collaboration between businesses and education is key to the success of this initiative and exactly what we achieved with our Futures Fair.

“The Futures Fair is a wonderful event in the Schools’ calendar which gives students the opportunity to meet with a huge range of representatives from across the UK and beyond to get advice and guidance.

“We feel incredibly lucky to have Mr Banks share his expertise with our students and I’m sure the students found his workshop, and those of our other speakers and exhibitors, invaluable when thinking of their future careers.” 

Advice was on hand from national and regional businesses and employers including Procter & Gamble, Northumbrian Water, HMRC, and Muckle LLP; representatives from universities included Imperial College London, University of St Andrews, and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

Alongside exhibitors, there was a packed programme of over 30 inspirational presentations on a variety of careers from industry leaders and professionals in a wide range of fields.   

The topics of the talks, which parents were also welcome to attend, ranged from careers in medicine, the media, and humanities to writing personal statements and applying to competitive universities.

High on the agenda was showcasing careers in science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM). Alongside Mr Banks, Professor Anya Hurlbert and Dr Lisa Russell from Newcastle University gave talks on their respective fields, neuroscience and scientific research; Dr Alex Rushworth presented ‘The Truth about Dentistry’; and Fairhurst talked about the different types of engineering careers available to students. 

Keen to provide a range of balanced career options, there was also a strong presence for students interested in the arts, languages and humanities. This year, the event partnered with the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, a collaboration which saw a group of Dame Allan’ students attend the Baltic’s Creative Careers Day and education producer Jo Spence give a presentation to arts students at the Futures Fair: ‘Earth without art is just Eh’.

Also present as an exhibitor was the fashion retailer Topshop & Topman, attending the event for the first time in the Futures Fair’s history – a coup for budding fashion students!