Throwback Thursday: Emily Smith – From Winstanley to the Telegraph Newsroom

This week’s Throwback Thursday shines a spotlight on alumna Emily Smith, a former Standish High student who joined Winstanley College in 2017. During her time at College, Emily balanced academic excellence with unforgettable enrichment experiences — including a life‑changing trip to Russia. Since leaving Winstanley, she has carved out an impressive path in journalism on the prestigious editorial graduate scheme at The Telegraph.

Emily says: ‘I went to Standish High School before joining Winstanley, where I studied A-levels in English Literature, History and Psychology from 2017 to 2019. One of the standout moments of my time there was the history trip to Russia in 2018. Visiting Moscow and St Petersburg and seeing the places we’d studied was incredible — it remains one of the best experiences of my life.

After Winstanley, I went on to study English and History at the University of York, drawn by its strong academic reputation and collegiate system. I became heavily involved in student journalism, writing for The York Tab and eventually becoming Editor‑in‑Chief. I then stayed on to complete a Master’s in English Literature, further developing the research and writing skills that now underpin my work. I also gained experience on the Daily Mirror’s features desk after being shortlisted for a student journalism award.

I now work at The Telegraph as an Editorial Graduate Trainee on their competitive scheme. The role involves rotating around the newsroom and gaining experience across news, features and politics. It’s an incredibly fast‑paced and exciting environment, and I’ve had some amazing opportunities — including meeting the King several times. In the future, I’d love to continue building my career in journalism and reporting on major stories.

To future Winstanley students, I’d say: take every opportunity you can. The College gives you independence while offering brilliant academic support, and my teachers were a huge inspiration. For those interested in journalism, get involved in student media early and start building a portfolio — even your own platform like a Substack or TikTok news account can be valuable. And for anyone considering York, I’d wholeheartedly recommend it. The teaching, the city and the community make it a fantastic place to study and get involved in extracurriculars. Winstanley was a really important stepping stone for me, and I couldn’t recommend it enough.’