Students were told to aim high and be confident when Justine Miliband visited a school this morning.

The environmental lawyer, who recently spent 62 days in Nigeria taking on oil giant Shell, visited Bentley Wood High School, in Bridges Road, Stanmore with former pupil Harrow East candidate Uma Kumaran this morning to speak to young women about their futures.

Speaking to the students in an assembly, the mother, barrister and wife of Labour leader Ed Miliband explained her career progression from studying maths at A-level – a subject she said she struggled with – to rising through Cambridge University and training for the bar.

She said: “The key message is if I can do this, you can. You should do what you love, but I really hope that by the time your generation are in power there will be political husbands, not wives.

“Do what you want to do in your career and hopefully the rest will follow.”

The former child actress, known professionally as Justine Thornton, listed some top cases she has recently worked on and also gave pupils her three top tips for success.

She said: “Number one is be confident, it is critical to success, I have realised.

“Number two, aim high. Look around you; look around at the women around you who inspire you and aim to be like them.

“Number three, make sure the men, your family, the people in your lives, support you in your career.”

Pupils were then given the opportunity to ask questions, with one pupil asking if she and husband Ed Miliband ever disagree.

She said: “We just chat about things at night, over supper, but fundamentally we have the same values, and that is probably why we got together in the first place.”

Headteacher Janice Howkins thanked Mrs Miliband for her visit, adding that the talk was 'inspiring' for her pupils.

Uma Kumaran added: "It was a great privilege to return to my old school with Justine Miliband, speaking to young women about my journey to becoming Labour's candidate in Harrow East.

"It was fantastic to hear from so many pupils about the issues that matter to them, and join Justine in encouraging the next generation of women to take the lead in politics."