A Chislehurst school has joined an alumni network after figures revealed state educated students are ten times more likely to view their peers as “unsuccessful”.

Coopers School in Hawkwood Lane is now one of 450 to join the Future First collective, designed to help former pupils stay connected and harness resources.

The organisation worked with research firm YouGov to record life after education and the differences between those in fee and non-paying schools.

It found state students are “ten times less likely to view the people who went to their secondary school as very successful,” and that many felt “unsuccessful compared to their privately educated counterparts”.

It also found the likes of Coopers miss out on donations from alumni, which according to a YouGov poll, could raise an average of £30,000 a year.

Now Coopers is targeting its ex-students to engage with past peers and be a part of a community to act as role models, mentors, fundraisers, and governors.

Alumni coordinator Penny Burge said an event at the school’s new facility, The Mary Anderson Centre, last year went well and is hoping more is t ocome.

She said: “We were delighted to welcome alumni last year and we hope to reconnect with more of the Coopers community.

“Your (former students) valuable experience will be vital in helping us to broaden current pupils’ jobs horizons and equip them for the world of work.”

Contact mbaker@coopersschool.com for more.