As 2022 draws to a close, it’s important to pause and reflect on the many successes of the Star family and the lessons we have learnt during the last 12 months.
Reflection has characterised the year. The death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II had a profound and heartfelt impact on the entire nation. It is only now, several months after Her Majesty passed away, that many of us have grasped the enormity of her extraordinary life of selfless service and her monumental legacy.
I am thankful that, during the last months of the late Queen’s reign, our pupils were able to celebrate her life through the joyous Platinum Jubilee festivities. In sombre contrast, commemorations during the national mourning period clearly indicated how much Her Majesty was revered by our young people. Whether it was through sincere words of condolence or lovingly created artwork, our pupils paid their respects and gave thanks to our inspirational monarch.
The autumn term began with great optimism following stellar A level and GCSE results days for Star pupils. Those who collected their well-deserved examination results this summer had faced considerable adversity due to the pandemic. Examinations had been cancelled in the preceding two years and there was understandable anxiety about their recommencement. To see so many happy pupils with bright futures ahead of them brings a real sense of joy that is shared by our teachers, senior leaders and parents. Congratulations to the class of 2022 on your outstanding achievements!
This year’s GCSE results provided further cause for celebration when four Star schools were ranked in the top 20 in England for pupils’ progress. While we must consider this year’s results with an element of caution due to the disproportionate effect of Covid-19 on some schools, this magnificent success nevertheless demonstrates the significant difference that our teachers, support staff and parents make to the education and life chances of our young people.
This winter, we proudly witness Star pupils once again performing their civic duty, spreading kindness and friendship in their communities through our annual Festive Winter Gift Programme. At a time when the costof-living crisis is affecting so many families, our annual initiative has become even more poignant. Thank you to everyone who has generously donated gifts or given precious time to support our communities: you are a credit to your school, your families and the whole of Star.
In wishing you a joyful festive season and a happy new year, I hope you realise the goals you set yourself in 2023 and continue to enrich the lives of those around you .
Together we are strong. We are Star.
SIR MUFTI HAMID PATEL CBE Chief Executive, Star Academies
Welcome to the latest edition of Starlight magazine, where we shine a spotlight on the recent inspiring achievements across Star.
United in both grief and admiration, pupils and staff came together to pay their respects to Her Majesty and her inimitable reign with reverence and creativity.
All schools marked the national period of mourning with solemn reflection, with special assemblies commemorating the many achievements of Her Majesty’s life. Pupils learned about her early years and were undoubtedly inspired by the unfailing service which was a constant throughout her reign as Britain’s longest serving monarch.
Throughout the mourning period, schools provided all members of staff and pupils an opportunity to leave messages to Her Majesty and her family in a special Book of Condolence. Books were placed in a quiet location, allowing everyone in the school community a moment of privacy as they wrote their heartfelt messages of sympathy and gratitude.
Some of the youngest members of our Star family demonstrated their compassion through a series of creative
activities. At The Olive School, Small Heath, pupils wrote their tributes on doves which they hung on an olive tree in the school’s Peace Garden. Year 4 pupils showed their admiration for Her Majesty by creating a pop art collage representing her journey from a young princess to a world-respected monarch. Conveying recognition of Her Majesty through art was a key feature of schools’ commemorations. At The Olive School, Birmingham, pupils used colourful visual mediums to commemorate the life of Queen Elizabeth II. Children in Year 5 created a timeline of Her Majesty’s reign to represent the countless historical events she witnessed, while the younger pupils in Year 1 celebrated her reign on the throne by designing commemorative stamps.
Pupils at Tong Leadership Academy also applied their creative talents by designing artwork of Her Majesty accompanied by Paddington Bear, as a tribute to the popular video shown during the Platinum Jubilee celebrations
The Star community came together to mourn the loss of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, while honouring the legacy she leaves behind.
earlier this year. The artwork was signed by the school and placed amongst the thousands of messages and floral tributes, in Green Park, London, alongside a floral message of thanks placed by pupils at Eden Girls’ School, Waltham Forest.
Green spaces and protecting the environment was a key focus of Her Majesty during her later years on the throne, signified by The Green Canopy initiative, one of the most inspiring aspects of her Platinum Jubilee celebrations. The public were encouraged to ‘plant a tree for the Jubilee’ to create a lasting legacy for future generations, inspiring them to protect the environment. Following her death, this initiative has been extended to further honour Her Majesty’s passion, and two of our Bradford schools were amongst the first in the country to plant memorial trees since her passing.
High Crags Primary Leadership Academy and Rainbow Primary Leadership Academy were both honoured to welcome the Lord Mayor of Bradford who joined pupils to plant commemorative trees on the school grounds. The trees will serve as a permanent memorial to Her Majesty and her monumental impact, joining over a million planted in the UK over the past year.
Before the nation came together to say their final goodbyes to Her Majesty at her state funeral, the National Moment of Reflection gave a chance for the Star family to unite for a two-minute silence, in which all generations could consider the impact she made to lives around the world.
Expressing his sympathies to the Royal Family, Sir Mufti Hamid Patel CBE, said: “Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was hugely respected and adored for her unfailing duty, sincerity and optimism. She was unlike any other monarch in our history and earned the widest respect not only in the UK but across the world. As the nation’s longest reigning monarch, she will be remembered in years to come for advocating a strong sense of community. She was steadfast and wise, devoted to putting duty first and embodying the best of qualities. Her Majesty’s dedication to the UK and the Commonwealth is unparalleled and we thank her for her selfless and inspirational service.”
Four Star schools were named amongst the highest performing in England when the Government released its national secondary school performance tables in October.
The Department for Education’s Progress 8 performance tables ranked Star schools in the top 20 places nationally. Progress 8 measures pupils’ academic progress from the age of 11 to the completion of their GCSEs by assessing their progress across eight core subjects.
This was the first time the Government released national GCSE performance data since 2019, due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
With a Progress 8 score of 1.73 – meaning that on average pupils achieve almost 2 grades higher than they were predicted to achieve at the end of their primary education –Tauheedul Islam Girls’ High School and Sixth Form College (TIGHS) in Blackburn achieved third place, with Eden Girls’ Leadership Academy, Birmingham claiming fourth place in its first ever appearance in the performance tables – after opening in 2019 – with a Progress 8 score of 1.66.
Two further Star schools were also ranked in the top 20 in England. Eden Girls’ School, Coventry was ranked 15th and Eden Girls’ School, Slough in 17th place, with Progress 8 scores of 1.22 and 1.21 respectively.
Reflecting on the challenges faced by pupils sitting their GCSE exams in the summer, Sir Mufti Hamid Patel CBE, said:
This cohort of pupils have faced unprecedented disruption over the last two years and, as the first group to sit exams since 2019, they have demonstrated exceptional resilience and dedication to their studies.
“For four of our schools to be ranked in the top 20 in England is exceptional, but what matters most is that children achieve the results they need to progress to their chosen course or destination, and to set them up for future success. These results demonstrate not just outstanding levels of attainment but also the phenomenal progress our pupils make, which is testament to the profound
Pupils from across Star’s secondary schools and sixth forms are being inspired to study at the world’s best educational establishments following the introduction of the new Star Elite University Preparation Programme.
From the hallowed colleges of Yale to the medieval spires of Oxford, the programme of visits, lectures and workshops gives pupils access and insight into the world’s most prestigious universities.
These activities mark the beginning of strategic relationships between Star and globally-renowned universities, including Oxbridge and Russell Group universities, as well the elite group of eight American colleges known as the Ivy League.
As part of Star’s programme, pupils in Star secondary schools will be able to realise the opportunities of studying abroad and provide them with tailored tutoring and guidance in addition to their studies. It aims to increase pupils’ chances of being successful in the competitive application process for Ivy League and other elite universities.
Some of the first lucky pupils to experience this new partnership were two pupils from Tauheedul Islam Boys’ High School (TIBHS) who travelled to the Ivy League universities to get a taste of an American education. Students visited the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Harvard University, Yale University and Princeton University.
Along with a tour of the campuses, students had the opportunity to attend undergraduate lectures at MIT, Princeton and Harvard, following in the footsteps of some of the world’s most influential leaders, including US presidents, Academy Award winners, Pulitzer Prize winners and Olympic medallists.
This inspiring experience followed a visit by a Harvard representative to TIBHS in September – the first time a representative from the esteemed institution has visited a school in Blackburn. Sixth form students from TIBHS and secondary pupils from The Valley Leadership Academy learned about the exciting possibilities of studying at an Ivy League university.
Elsewhere, Star pupils were given a taste of life at leading universities when they participated in Star’s inaugural Oxbridge Conference. Along with Year 11 pupils from The Valley Leadership Academy and Tauheedul Islam Girls’ High School and Sixth Form College, their peers from Highfield Leadership Academy, Bay Leadership Academy and Eden Boys’ School, Preston attended the online event.
Speakers included renowned Biology, History and Politics professors from the oldest university in the English-speaking world. The preeminent academics provided an insight into how Oxbridge structures degrees at its institutions and offered advice on how to get a head start in their university preparations.
Representatives from The Queen’s College, Oxford delivered an insightful session on the admissions process, before pupils posed their burning questions to a panel made up of current students at both Oxford and Cambridge universities.
Barkerend Primary Leadership Academy and Rainbow Primary Leadership Academy were amongst a privileged group of community representatives invited to greet HM The King on his arrival at City Hall, while Robina Naznine, Principal of Eden Boys’ Leadership Academy, Bradford, attended the civic reception where she had the honour of meeting His Majesty.
With thousands of people amassed in Bradford’s Centenary Square looking to get a glimpse of the monarch in his first official visit to Yorkshire as King, pupils and staff from the primary schools had the distinct honour of a front row view next to the red carpet as the royal cavalcade arrived.
Pupils waved their Union flags as HM The King arrived to the sound of the Bradford Brass Band and Punjabi Dhol drummers,
as he stopped to chat to some of the lucky members of the public in the crowd.
His Majesty then went to meet some of Bradford’s young leaders at a reception inside City Hall, which included Ms Naznine along with other invited community leaders. Ms Naznine shook the hand of His Majesty, following a brief conversation with other prominent community leaders from Bradford, in which they discussed the Muslim faith and the positive impact the Royal Family’s work has had on communities throughout the United Kingdom.
Pupils from Barkerend Primary Leadership Academy and Rainbow Primary Leadership Academy then caught an even closer glimpse of The King as he departed City Hall. As they took their places next to his car, pupils were in touching distance as His Majesty gave a royal wave to the crowds before leaving for his next engagement in Leeds.
Aaliyah, a Year 5 pupil at Barkerend Primary Leadership Academy, said: “When I went to Centenary Square I was excited to meet the King, I felt happy and grateful to be picked to come. It was a great experience to shake the Mayor’s hand and have a picture on the red carpet too.”
Five Ofsted inspections conducted in the past few months saw all schools either better or maintain their ratings, providing further recognition of the outstanding work carried out across the Star community.
Thornbury Primary Leadership Academy and Bay Leadership Academy both improved their ratings to ‘good’ the first time in both schools’ history.
Meanwhile, Eden Girls’ School, Waltham Forest and Tauheedul Islam Girls’ High School and Sixth Form College (TIGHS) maintained their ‘outstanding’ judgements, whilst Rainbow Primary Leadership Academy was once again judged to be ‘good’ in its first Ofsted inspection since joining Star.
TIGHS and Eden Girls’ School, Waltham Forest received recognition for maintaining exceptional standards, as they were once again rated as ‘outstanding’ in all categories, with no areas for improvement. Amongst the many aspects of school life that were praised at Eden Girls’ School, Waltham Forest, pupils were commended for their commitment to learning and development and the opportunities created for them by leaders. In TIGHS’ ‘outstanding’ report, inspectors highlighted that staff have ‘created a culture of scholastic excellence’ and that ‘pupils work tirelessly and achieve excellent academic outcomes’.
Bay Leadership Academy in Morecambe celebrated the school’s best ever rating in its first inspection since joining Star. The report commended that ‘pupils, parents and carers place this school at the heart of their local community’ and that pupils ‘are happy and proud to be part of this school’.
Thornbury Primary Leadership Academy also improved its Ofsted rating in its first inspection as part of Star, with an overall judgement of ‘good’. The Bradford primary was found to be ‘outstanding’ in two of the five inspection categories - ‘early years provision’ and ‘personal development of pupils’ - the latter of which the report described as ‘exceptional.’
Across Bradford, there were also celebrations at Rainbow Primary Leadership Academy, as the school maintained its status of ‘good’. The school’s focus on fostering a positive school environment drew particular praise, with inspectors commenting that ‘all members of this school community feel part of the Rainbow family.’
Pupils across Star schools valiantly overcame years of disruption to their education to excel in their GCSE, BTec and A level exams.
After an exam hiatus as a result of the pandemic, pupils receiving their results in August were the first cohort of pupils to sit exams for three years. Both Year 11 and Year 13 pupils faced significant disruption to their education over the past two years, with the latter being prevented from taking their GCSE examinations in 2020.
Despite these unprecedented circumstances, pupils rose to the challenge by demonstrating exceptional resilience and dedication to achieve outstanding results.
Many of the students progressed to degree courses at universities across the country, including at some of the UK’s most prestigious institutions. Fatima Patel, from Tauheedul Islam Girls’ High School and Sixth Form College (TIGHS), achieved the top A* grade in A level biology, sociology and psychology as well as a grade A in chemistry. Fatima was awarded a place at the University of Leeds to study Dentistry. Fatima said: “I am very excited for the next five years and all the challenges that await. A huge thank you to all my teachers who have helped me to come this far.”
Pupils taking GCSE exams faced similar disruption and were the first cohort to sit exams since 2019.
TIGHS pair Hafsah Vali and Safa Moosa became part of a small, prestigious group of pupils nationally to receive the highest grade 9 in all thirteen subjects. Safa, who will be studying sociology, chemistry, psychology and computer science at A level, said: “These have been such a difficult and disruptive two years. It is really humbling to get through it and achieve such fantastic grades.”
There was a double celebration at Tong Leadership Academy, where twins Gerson and Gecelina Afonso secured university places. Gecelina was also granted £10,000 by the Frank Hester scholarship, to help finance her education at university. She said: “I think everyone in the family will be really proud and the fact I got to celebrate it with Gerson today was really special – his results were amazing so I’m so proud of him.”
Realising her ‘dream’ of studying History at university was Bay Leadership Academy’s Sian Andrews. Sian said: “This is the start of an adventure for me. It has been hard work, but it has all been worth it. I want to say thank you for the endless support I have had from everyone around me.”
Across Lancashire, Highfield Leadership Academy’s Amelia Hopwood secured a sought-after scholarship at Rossall School after achieving four grade 8s and four grade 7s. Head Girl and a founder member of the school’s anti-bullying team, Amelia said: “I know everyone at the school has worked so hard, not just in our exams but helping
Star pupils
exceptional results in extraordinary circumstances
THIS IS THE START OF AN ADVENTURE FOR ME. IT HAS BEEN HARD WORK, BUT IT HAS ALL BEEN WORTH IT.”
I AM VERY EXCITED FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS AND ALL THE CHALLENGES THAT AWAIT.”
the community out as well. I’ve loved being at Highfield.”
Amaan Irfan Kauji was one of the star performers at Eden Boys’ School, Preston achieving the top grade 9 in all ten GCSE subjects. Amaan juggled his school work with selfless community volunteering in Preston and provided invaluable support to his peers at school, even returning to school following his exams to help at booster sessions for younger pupils.
Oulder Hill Leadership Academy celebrated a successful first results day as part of the Star family, with Zuzanna Filipiak securing four grade 9s and six grade 8s, one of many happy pupils on the day. Giving her words of wisdom to those currently studying, Zuzanna said: “I feel very happy. My biggest challenge was time management and organising my revision. My advice to the new Year 7s would be to read a lot!”
I KNOW EVERYONE AT THE SCHOOL WORKED SO HARD.”
Throughout the month of October, our young people celebrated the unique contributions that Black people have made throughout history and learned how to continue the fight against divisions within society.
Pupils embraced the annual month of reflection by learning more about Black history, its heritage and the cultures that surround it. Many chose to highlight the Black heroes that have inspired them through works of art or music, while others used it as an opportunity to shine a light on unrest and the challenges we all face to create a more inclusive society.
Hopes for a more harmonious world were expressed by Year 6 pupils at Starbank School, who created powerful ‘I Have A Dream’ jars. Inspired by civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr’s famous speech on his dreams of a more inclusive society, pupils filled glass jars with multicoloured sand representing the diversity around us. Adorning each jar was each pupil’s wish for the future.
Looking back at key contributors in the fields of art and science was a feature of many classrooms at Highfield Leadership Academy. Year 7 pupils in design and technology discovered the impact of the work of Black inventors, while the origins and influence of the Blues movement was explored in music lessons.
Trailblazers were also immortalised through art by pupils at Eden Girls’ School, Coventry. Talented artists across the school contributed to a display with drawings and paintings in homage to their Black heroes, from Muhammed Ali, to Barack Obama and Rosa Parks.
At The Olive School, Hackney, appreciation for the heritage of Black culture was celebrated through learning about African musical influences, with pupils trying their hand at traditional drumming that originated on the continent.
Residing at the school’s modern, purpose-built campus in Blackburn, TB6 builds on the school’s exceptional academic record.
In its inaugural year, TB6 is offering core STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths) related subjects, including A levels in Biology, Chemistry, Economics and Mathematics as well as a vocational qualification in BTEC Applied Science.
Students also have the opportunity to study AS levels in Core Mathematics and Modern Foreign Languages. The school plans to extend the range of subjects on offer in future years as it looks to expand its provision to even more sixth form students over a number of years.
Alongside the sixth form’s academic offer, students will also take part in programmes designed to develop their character, including charitable and fundraising activities, an opportunity to experience international travel and tailored mentoring programmes supported by industry leaders.
At the sixth form’s site, pupils will have access to dedicated classrooms, a private study space and the TB6 lounge, as well as benefitting from the school’s state-of-the-art learning and sports facilities.
Applications for September 2023 are now open via www.tb6.co.uk
Star’s civic leadership has come to the fore once again this winter with its annual Festive Winter Gift Programme.
With the cost-of-living crisis affecting so many families, this year’s festive charity drive is seeing all 31 Star schools engage in philanthropic giving and acts of kindness to make sure no one faces the challenges of winter alone.
The Festive Winter Gift Programme focuses on two key themes: spreading kindness and tackling food poverty. The Star family has been demonstrating its community spirit by bringing joy to people who may feel lonely over the festive period, including Year 3 pupils at The Olive School, Bolton who have been singing nasheeds at Strathmore and Astley Grange care home. Similarly, High Crags Primary Leadership Academy sent letters, cards and festive gift bags containing biscuits and puzzle books to residents at nearby Hallcroft Extra Care Housing in Shipley.
Star’s annual Food for All Week, first introduced in 2020, began on Monday 5 December, extending the support provided to local communities through the Star Family Hub foodbanks. Food for All Week saw staff and pupils preparing fresh meals on their school sites, while others have collected and distributed packaged food to local residents, community groups and organisations supporting homeless people. Pupils at Small Heath Leadership Academy, for example, collected and shared food and hampers for the Birmingham City Mission and local Sparkhill Foodbank.
Amongst the many more acts of kindness across all schools, the Festive Winter Gift Programme provides a valuable learning opportunity to pupils by giving them a platform to expand their leadership qualities, by organising and planning their charitable activities.
Star schools marked Armistice Day by paying their respects to those lost in conflict since the First World War and reflecting on their lives and legacies.
At 11am on 11 November, silence descended across schools as they held a two-minute silence to signify the end of hostilities in 1918. This was followed on Remembrance Sunday by school representatives attending commemorative ceremonies in their local communities.
Reflective events were also held in schools to signify our young people’s gratitude for the sacrifices made by those who serve their country and those in active service. Commemorating Armistice Day is an important part of life at Oulder Hill Leadership Academy. In 2019, the school was one of few in the country to have been affiliated to the Royal British Legion and the school retains close links to this day. This year, the Rochdale school held a special remembrance service where dignitaries Councillor Faisal Rana and Sharman Birtles, the Vice Lord Lieutenant of Greater Manchester, unveiled a touching commemorative art installation. Talented pupils created a striking sculpture of ceramic poppies, emblazoned with the names of fallen soldiers from the school’s local community in Rochdale, as an enduring tribute to those who gave their lives in conflict.
Pupils at Eden Girls’ School, Slough also channelled their tributes through art. Art pupils demonstrated their sewing skills to create a striking art installation featuring poppies made from pre-loved fabrics and recycled materials.
Funds were raised for the Royal British Legion as wristbands, key rings and poppies were sold at stands organised by pupils as they took time out of their breaks and lunchtimes.
Generous pupils and staff from Star schools raised more than £73,000 to support an appeal for one of the most devastating humanitarian disasters in recent history.
During September, Pakistan suffered some of the worst flooding in its history, with at least 33 million people (15% of the population), directly affected and more than 1,700 people tragically losing their lives.
Although the worst of the flooding has now receded, a nationwide food crisis still plagues Pakistan as 80% of the country’s crops were damaged. This is expected to heighten levels of malnutrition with supply chains decimated and women and children anticipated to be most affected.
Secondary schools Eden Boys’ Leadership Academy, Birmingham East and Tauheedul Islam Boys’ High School raised a staggering £10,017 and £6,952 respectively, while The Olive School, Blackburn, Eden Girls’ Leadership Academy, Birmingham and Tauheedul Islam Girls’ High School and Sixth Form College all received incredibly generous donations from families, each totalling over £5,000.
At The Olive School, Small Heath, staff took a more unconventional route to raise funds, hosting an ‘Egg Head Challenge’ where the school’s senior leadership team completed a series of tricky tasks. With the sales of tickets for the competition, and a non-uniform day, the school raised £1,400 for the charity appeal.
Senior leaders from Star schools came together to hear from internationally-renowned educators, participate in workshops and share best practice at a series of Star conferences taking place during the autumn term.
The Primary and Secondary Leaders Conferences are flagship events in Star’s rich staff and school development programme, which aims to continuously drive up standards and achieve excellence in every aspect of school life.
With a theme of ‘Growing Resilient Schools’, the Annual Conference for Secondary School Senior Leaders featured an opening keynote from guest speaker and distinguished psychologist Bradley Busch. Bradley provided leaders with practical insights and strategies about how schools can develop a more resilient culture through a healthy environment of support and challenge.
Sir Anthony Seldon, a globally-renowned historian and former headmaster, delivered the closing session with a visionary speech about the future of education. As well as challenging leaders to consider how schools need to adapt to reflect the changing educational landscape, he also made an impassioned case on why wellbeing must be central to school culture.
Taking place at Ewood Park, home of Blackburn Rovers FC, the National Curriculum Conference for Primary Leaders had a clear focus on creating an inspiring curriculum. Featuring a keynote speech from Edward Watson, senior and subject leaders from Star’s primary schools considered Ofsted’s curriculum reviews and reflected on the types of knowledge that pupils will acquire as they progress on their journey.
Leaders from both events left with lots of tips and knowledge of how to continue to support their teams in each of their schools, and provide the best possible education opportunities for their pupils.
THE £73,000 DONATION FROM STAR SCHOOLS WILL BE USED TO DELIVER LIFE-SAVING AID IN PAKISTAN TO MEET THE BASIC NEEDS OF THOSE AFFECTED BY PROVIDING FOOD, CLEAN WATER AND SHELTER.
Star schools were filled with the sweet sights and smells of homemade bakes as thousands of pounds were raised for Macmillan Cancer Support on its annual Coffee Morning.
Macmillan’s Coffee Mornings have become a feature in Star schools every September, and this year proved no different as fundraising took the shape of cake sales and competitions as pupils and staff showed off their baking skills.
Schools raised thousands of pounds for the charity, with all of the money going towards Macmillan’s vital work in supporting those affected by cancer, from helping families fund holidays, to giving those with cancer emotional, practical and medical support.
Star’s faith schools relished the opportunity to commemorate the life and teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) during the blessed month of Rabi ul Awwal, which marks his birth, his Hijrah (migration) from Makkah to Madinah and his passing.
From 27 September and throughout October, pupils explored the life of the Prophet (pbuh), shared their understanding of his virtues and followed his example by behaving with generosity and kindness.
During this sacred time, many pupils delivered assemblies and presentations in which they showed impressive understanding and humility. They performed nasheeds, recited poems and composed intensely moving speeches that inspired their peers and staff. They enjoyed sampling olives, dates, figs and honey, through which they felt more connected to the sunnah – the way of the Prophet (pbuh) - as well as eating healthily.
Pupils showed empathy, tenderness and sincerity through random acts of kindness that brightened the days of their classmates, teachers and family members. Affirming their commitment to building a strong Star community, schools also redoubled their efforts to stock their
foodbanks, ensuring that those most in need felt the benefit of their care.
Rabi ul Awwal is a time to be both reflective and inclusive, a month to reach out to neighbours. Some of the youngest Star pupils hosted special exhibitions for friends of their schools. A great example of the excellent work that took place across the Star family was seen at The Olive School, Hackney, where children created food and information stalls at their Super Seerah Spirituality Day exhibition, where they relayed their impressive learning. Invited guests included children from a local Jewish primary school who enjoyed learning from their friends.
Star schools will continue to build on the knowledge that pupils gained during this blessed month, using the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) to develop character, strengthening themselves and their communities.
Faith schools mark the life and lessons of The Prophet
Star aims for every pupil to be a fluent, confident reader who can understand the wide range of books, articles and digital texts that they will encounter in school and beyond. Reading opens up new worlds of possibility and enjoyment that last a lifetime. Wide reading empowers young people to know more about both real and imagined worlds and to recognise key themes and ideas that challenge and inspire people worldwide and across time.
Star’s commitment to a world-class book culture is intentionally ambitious. In every Star school, we place reading at the heart of the curriculum and convey a sense of vibrancy through welcoming libraries and intriguing classrooms that invite pupils to engage with wide-ranging genres, experience different authors and share their thoughts about books with their peers. Reading-rich schools are characterised by celebratory displays, teacher role modelling and the buzz of book-talk.
The Star Readers initiative is central to our drive on reading. Every pupil is encouraged to read at least ten of the books from the Star Readers series assigned to their year group. Texts are deliberately selected to be both challenging and engaging. They demand a gradually increased level of reading stamina as young people move from Reception through to Year 13.
Pupils who successfully complete the Star Readers challenge receive certificates or prizes to acknowledge their achievements. The biggest reward, however, is being engrossed in the writing of authors including Julia Donaldson, Charlotte Bronte, Charles Dickens and Malala Yousafzai.
This year, we have introduced Star Read Aloud in our secondary schools. This gives all pupils the opportunity to hear one of the books from the Star Readers series being read for around 15 minutes per day.
Year 11 Star Pupil Councillors were enthusiastic about engaging with books beyond the exam syllabus in this way, describing how Markus Zusak’s The Book Thief and George Orwell’s Animal Farm ‘helped us look at metaphors in different ways’.
Aside from the Star Readers programme, our schools are committed to ensuring that any pupil who has fallen behind in their reading is supported to make rapid progress. Star has invested in online programmes, such as ReadingWise in secondary schools, to give bespoke support wherever necessary.
Many Star schools have revamped their libraries and created comfortable reading environments. At their recent Star Pupil Council meeting, Year 6 pupils expressed their appreciation for reading cafes and special events that have ‘brought books to life’. They were enjoying class readers such as Michael Morpurgo’s War Horse, described by one pupil as ‘deeply emotional’.
In primary schools, a new trust reading comprehension curriculum has been introduced. Teachers have attended masterclasses so that they are confident in how to use the scheme to develop children’s knowledge and skills. Reading outside of school is, of course, vitally important. Parents receive guidance on the best ways to support their children’s reading and our hope is that we can inspire our wider communities to celebrate reading too.
Every pupil is encouraged to complete the Star Readers challenge by reading ten books from their year group’s recommended list.
The Star Readers Primary Edition and Star Readers Secondary Edition represent the very best of classic and contemporary children’s literature and will provide pupils with a breadth of challenging and interesting tales.
Schools have many strategies to help parents support the Star Readers challenge at home, including the use of home reading diaries in which parents can comment on their children’s daily reading. Working on a Recommended Reads Journal with your child, in which you create a scrapbook of book recommendations for their peers, is a great way to encourage a love for reading. Enrolling your children in local libraries will also support your child’s Star Readers progress.
Along with a copy of the Star Readers Primary or Secondary Edition, pupils are given a reading record to monitor their progress. At the end of the year, those who successfully complete the Star Readers challenge are awarded a certificate in recognition of their achievement.
Find out more about Star Readers and download the reading lists here.
A sculpture designed by art students at Eden Girls’ Leadership Academy, Birmingham was part of a nationwide art trail to explore historic links to the slave trade.
The school was invited to paint one of just 100 large globe sculptures as part of a trail of planet-like orbs which lined the streets and parks of cities around the country.
Entitled ‘The World Reimagined’, the project sought to explore African history through art, before the trans-Atlantic trade of enslaved Africans, and the devastating effect the trade had on cultures, communities and individuals.
By bringing to life the reality and impact of the trade, the trail aimed to celebrate the spirit and culture that survived on the continent, with members of the public able to follow the globes around the streets of British cities whose histories have been shaped by slave trading.
The pupils’ globe was inspired by the beauty of Africa, referencing the scale of its natural wonders through its wildlife and its diverse flora and fauna. The artwork also reflects the harsh realities of slavery, with a number of enchained individuals adorning the base of the globe.
Explaining the inspiration by the painting, Denise Hunt, art teacher at the school said: “The project was designed to inspire and instil pride in what it means to be black and British and help us all better understand what it means to live here.
“We hoped to embrace the World Reimaged ethos - to help our society come together in dialogue – to re-examine our understanding of our history and reimagine the world that we can create together – one rooted in acknowledgement, dignity and unity, cherishing our diversity.”
The pupils’ sculpture was on display in the prime location of Millennium Point in Birmingham city centre, and was among 103 orbs that were part of similar trails in Bristol, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool and Swansea.
Following the exhibition, the globe is now on permanent display at the front of the school for visitors to appreciate as they enter the site.
A pupil from Tauheedul Islam Boys’ High School (TIBHS) has won a prestigious international prize thanks to his work recycling school uniforms and supporting the local community.
Muhammad Karbhar has been awarded £10,000 funding by the Ardonagh Community Trust (ACT) for the Bright Future Prize 2022, which attracted entries from all over the world.
The Bright Future Prize aims to empower young people aged 13-19 to become the next generation of community leaders by funding their bright ideas that will make a difference to their chosen cause.
Muhammad’s bright idea, which won the Your Vision category, focused on helping the school’s pupil-led social enterprise Uniformity reach new heights.
Uniformity upcycles pre-loved school uniforms, enabling parents to donate and purchase used clothing via an innovative e-commerce platform. All profits are donated to support the school’s food bank, so not only does it provide a way to reuse uniform and tackle the environmental impact of clothing it also helps local people access vital supplies.
With the help of the prize money, the team has its sights on expanding the operation and purchasing its own dry-cleaning machine and upgrading its online platform to make it simpler to donate and purchase
Muhammad said: “It’s an amazing feeling to come ahead of people all around the world. This funding will help so many people in the long run, not just those needing affordable clothing. It will help us to expand and means our foodbank can help even more people in the area.
“This enterprise is about reinforcing one of our key STAR values, that of Service, and on a personal level it has enhanced my leadership skills and complements my faith values too. Just like everyone at TIBHS, I have high ambitions for my future and this funding will definitely support that going forward.”
Hear more from Muhammad talking about his project here.
Thoughtful primary pupils at Starbank School spread joy throughout their local community by creating 70 hampers for residents of a nursing and dementia care home.
To mark the Harvest tradition of giving to others, pupils spent weeks collecting, filling and decorating hampers filled with bespoke gifts for each resident at MHA Herondale and Kingfisher House.
Every class was assigned a resident who they created a personalised hamper for. Each resident provided details of their individual hobbies and a wish list of what they might like to receive.
Alongside their school leaders, pupils then hand-delivered their hampers to the recipients, giving everyone the opportunity to get to know one another and provide welcome company.
Amongst the overflowing hampers, thoughtful and generous gifts included a selection of nail polish for a 92-year resident who enjoys getting dressed up and football memorabilia for a keen Aston Villa supporter.
Speaking about the generosity of the pupils, the care home’s manager, Ryan Cheslin, said: “The pupils were wonderful in how kindly they spoke to the residents and, looking at the hampers, it is overwhelming how much care and thought has gone into preparing them. The hampers are a perfect way to show them that they matter.”
Hajra Rifat, Principal at Starbank School’s Bierton Road primary, said: “One of our most important STAR values at our school is that of Service, and we believe Harvest is the perfect time to give something back to the community. All of the residents were so thankful, one in particular cried when he received his hamper and was saying how the visit had made his year. Our pupils left definitely realising the importance of giving.”
The school plans to return to the care home termly to continue their civic duty and to build friendships with the residents.
Pupils at Rainbow Primary Leadership Academy have produced and presented their own show on a local radio station.
Attending summer schools at Bradford Community Broadcasting (BCB) radio station, two groups of pupils each recorded a full 30-minute broadcast for the station that featured interviews, book reviews and news reports.
After learning the ropes of radio broadcasting, pupils took active roles in the production, writing segments for the show which included news reporting, jokes and recipes.
Over the course of the week, the children learnt how to record and edit sounds using industry-standard equipment. They enjoyed recording news reports, as well as music jingles and tag lines for their radio show.
For one news feature, pupils interviewed local councillor Matt Edwards. Pupils asked the Green Party representative probing questions about the environment and what the council is doing to combat pollution in Bradford.
Presenters also interviewed their Principal, Mr Harris, about what he likes about leading the school, and took turns interviewing each other about their favourite books for a ‘Rainbow Reviews’ feature. Following the summer schools, radio station staff have been visiting the school weekly to work with Year 5 pupils to continue their learning experiences.
A hardworking teacher at Eden Girls’ School, Waltham Forest has been recognised for their commitment to helping their community.
Is’Haaq Jasat, the school’s Lead Teacher of RE and its Civic and Community Leadership Coordinator, has been nominated for the Mayor’s Public Service Hero award in the borough’s Pride of Waltham Forest Awards.
The awards celebrate people in the borough who go ‘above and beyond’ for the community. Is’Haaq’s award in particular recognises those in the public sector who embody ‘civic pride and make a tangible difference to their community, neighbourhood and Waltham Forest as a whole.’
Is’Haaq is a community champion who organises a vast array of civic projects and events for the school and wider community. He is passionate about interfaith projects. As lead of the local Faiths and Beliefs Forum, a schools interfaith linking project, Is’Haaq is helping to unite the community and build bonds between people of different faiths.
Charitable action is also a key focus of Is’Haaq’s school role. During the pandemic, he helped to set up the school’s foodbank to support parents and families in need, and he is at the forefront of Eden Girls’ School, Waltham Forest’s philanthropic efforts.
Is’Haaq said: “I honestly have no clue of who nominated me for the Mayor of Waltham Forest’s Public Service Hero award, but I would like to thank them and the school for supporting me during these programmes, and I look forward to continuing these crucial community projects.”
A pupil from Tong Leadership Academy is celebrating after striking gold at an international boxing tournament.
Vonnie Haley won a belt and gold medal after winning her age group and the 55kg category at the Esker All Female Box Cup in Dublin, run by the prestigious Irish Athletic Boxing Association.
The competition is internationally-renowned as one of the biggest events for female boxers, with more than 400 boxers from 14 countries competing for medals.
The Year 9 pupil won the boxing belt following two flawless performances in the final stages. After beating an opponent from Ireland in the semi-final bout, Vonnie comprehensively out-fought a Canadian competitor in the final, which she won by a unanimous decision. Although she won the belt, the competition rules mean that she couldn’t return home to West Yorkshire with it as it must remain in Ireland.
This is the latest in a series of successful bouts for Vonnie in her fledgling boxing career, after recent wins in prestigious competitions held in Manchester and Hull.
Currently boxing for Platinum Boxing Club in Queensbury, Bradford, Vonnie took up the sport aged just 9, following in the family footsteps of her older brother who also competes in the sport.
Vonnie is seeking to extend her winning streak at the English Championships in May and, if she succeeds, she will secure a place at the European Championships.
Pupils at High Crags Primary Leadership Academy have gained international recognition for making their school more environmentally friendly and raising awareness of eco issues.
Since forming an Eco Committee in 2020, pupils at the school have been on a mission to reduce their environmental impact. Their hard work has been rewarded by the school achieving Green Flag status by Eco-schools – an international education programme that prompts young people to take action to explore sustainability and tackle climate change.
The school’s flagship project has been the creation of a peace garden. The Eco Committee transformed an unused, overgrown area of the school field into an attractive garden – at its centre sits a decorative pagoda and water fountain, surrounded by a butterfly garden.
The school is now a haven for birds and insects following the creation of a wildlife garden at a separate part of the school. Green-fingered pupils and staff have worked together there to plant more than 50 trees to support local eco-systems.
Pupils have also been discovering more sustainable ways to get to and from school. Implementing a ‘walking bus’, pupils have been walking to and from school together in groups supervised by members of staff. The walking bus service aims to reduce the school’s overall carbon footprint, as well as promoting healthy lifestyles.
The Eco Committee’s environmental improvements have extended to the local area with a team of pupils participating in litter picking and developing a culture of anti-littering.
Pupils at Eden Boys’ Leadership Academy, Manchester placed in the top five of schools nationally in a closely contested debating competition.
A team of eight pupils made it to the Urban Debate League Final, where teams are tasked with making a compelling case for or against a motion put forward by ‘the house’ and are then judged on how convincing their case is.
Debating is known to help young people develop critical thinking skills, improve oracy and build leadership virtues.
Organised by Debate Mate and taking place at the Bank of America in London, the team fought off stiff competition from over 100 schools to finish in the top five.
The Manchester pupils made it to the finals by breezing through their first two local rounds without losing a single debate. The boys’ exceptional performances secured an invitation to participate in the prestigious national final where they joined 15 other schools in a fiercely contested final round.
Prior to the final, the pupils were provided with the first motion they would be debating, which involved making a case in favour of the metaverse – the online space where individuals can interact with each other through virtual reality. After 15 minutes of prep time, the pupils confidently pitched their rationale to the judges on how the metaverse could widen the scale of accessibility to people around the world.
The team’s second debate involved arguing against the motion that ‘this house believes that parents should be given a proxy vote for their children.’ After framing their case around upholding individual liberty and democracy, they then received floor questions and had to put forward rebuttals to the arguments.
Team member Samran Inayat said: “It was a real privilege to have been a part of this. It was fantastic to place in the top five of 120 schools who competed in the Urban Debate League.”
Battling wind and rain, determined pupils at Eden Girls’ School, Coventry climbed to the highest point in England and Wales on a recent school trip.
Year 11 pupils ascended to the summit of Mount Snowdon on a journey that was intended to help them test their physical and mental resilience.
After an early start from the West Midlands, 72 pupils and school staff arrived at the village of Llanberis in North Wales to begin their journey. They were greeted not only by their mountain guides for the day, but by driving rain and gusty winds which added an extra challenge to the trip.
Making their way up the famous Llanberis Path, the group naturally split off into those determined to reach the 1085m summit, and those who wanted a more leisurely ascent and to soak up their picturesque surroundings.
Pupils were delighted to achieve their goal of reaching the summit, despite being denied signature views of Snowdonia National Park by clouds and poor visibility. Pupils were also treated to an educational trip to the Slate Museum, where they learned how slate quarried from the mountains around Snowdonia could be found on roofs across the world.
Muhammad Imran, RE teacher at Eden Girls’ School, Coventry said: “Whether the girls reached the top or not, they all climbed a massive ‘inner mountain’ as they discovered hidden strengths and reserves of courage and determination.
“All the girls should hold their heads high for not only did they all achieve individual success, but they left a powerful impression on all our guides who praised them for their positivity and resilience.”
Pupils at Eden Boys’ School, Preston have welcomed the introduction of a new creative element to the curriculum. Innovation, design and practical ‘making’ skills are all key components of the new Design and Technology curriculum, which has been introduced for key stage 3 pupils.
There has been a buzz around the subject from pupils as they try their hand at stimulating creative challenges to develop new skills, with textiles proving especially popular.
The introductory module has seen pupils learning about textiles this term. It has given pupils the opportunity to learn new practical skills and develop their fine motor skills, through functional tasks such as using a sewing machine.
Pupils have been challenged to achieve their sewing machine ‘driver’s license’, which involves learning the fundamentals of the machine, demonstrating basic stitches, as well as pivots, corners and more advanced decorative stiches.
During the autumn term, Year 7 pupils have learned about the technical side of textiles, such as the different types of fibres and methods of fabric constructions, as well as their use and properties. Meanwhile, Year 8 pupils have been investigating clothing – exploring sustainability and how to reduce their carbon footprint – and their Year 9 counterparts have been researching the latest cutting-edge textiles used for specialist roles, such as astronauts, Formula 1 drivers and fire fighters.
Year 5 pupils at The Olive School, Birmingham learned vital life skills as they took part in the national Restart a Heart Day in October.
The annual awareness day aims to raise awareness about cardiac arrest and help people to learn CPR, giving them lifesaving skills and the confidence to use them in critical situations.
Birmingham Community Healthcare visited the school to teach the children how to perform CPR using a special bespoke training video. The film starred the school’s very own pupil Imaan Wadood, who demonstrated practical step by step CPR instructions to their peers.
Paramedics delivered a practical and informative workshop where children were taught invaluable skills, including what to do in an emergency, such as if someone collapses or stops breathing and how to use a defibrillator.
The practical aspect of the workshop filled the pupils with confidence, as each of them was given the opportunity to apply their new skills by performing CPR on a mannequin.
The Restart a Heart Day initiative is run by The Resuscitation Council UK along with the British Heart Foundation, British Red Cross, St John Ambulance and NHS Ambulance Service.
Speaking about the important skills learned, Year 5 pupil Mouhammad Ba said: “I loved being able to perform CPR on the model. I didn’t know how to restart a heart before or what a defibrillator was. The video showing how to perform CPR was very helpful.”
Following the school’s participation in Star’s inaugural Oxbridge Conference, a group of Year 11 pupils took part in a two-day visit to the University of Oxford. They explored the worldrenowned university and heard first-hand from its students and professors.
The visit sparked conversations about pupils’ next steps after their GCSEs and gave them an opportunity to learn more about which degrees or career prospects may interest them when they leave school.
The trip began with a tour of The Queen’s College, founded in 1341 and one of the oldest educational institutions in the world, along with a visit to the Pit Rivers Museum, which contains over 600,000 artefacts of historical significance from across the globe.
The visit helped pupils to develop their skills and knowledge of the university application process, with a hands-on workshop
on how to navigate typical university interview questions, as well as general advice on applying for university via UCAS. They were also provided with useful tips about making their university application stand out from the pack, including how to gain relevant experience and ‘sell’ themselves to university admission teams.
A practical workshop entitled how to ‘think like an Oxford student’ enabled the Blackpool pupils to discover the skills and work ethic required to be successful there. The day concluded with an opportunity to explore the city’s awe-inspiring architecture as pupils took to the streets as part of a spooky ghost tour.
On the second day, pupils were given a window into a day in the life of a student with a taster session with the university’s Department of Chemistry, using all the skills a student requires to complete a ‘poison puzzle’ challenge. The science challenge was followed by an insightful Q&A session with current Oxford students, where Highfield pupils asked their burning questions to help demystify life at a leading university.
The sporting accomplishments of a pupil from The Valley Leadership Academy reached new heights as he took home three gold medals from an international kickboxing competition.
Brad Derbyshire was crowned champion across three different disciplines, representing Team England at the WKC World Championships in Killarney, Ireland.
The WKC is world renowned for its high standard of competitors, with the Year 10 pupil joining 400 other competitors from countries including Spain, Venezuela and Germany.
The competition lasted over a week, with Brad winning all eight of the fights he competed in. Facing opponents in the under 65kg category for competitors aged between 13 and 14, Brad’s gold medal winning performances were even more impressive as they came in three different disciplines – with each requiring him to adapt his fighting style.
Brad took up the sport of kickboxing when he was just seven years old, while also trying his hand at mixed martial arts. Alongside representing England, he also competes for his local club Alf’s Blackbelt Academy in nearby Stacksteads. With his sights on a career in the sport, Brad has a bright future ahead of him.
Year 6 pupils at The Olive School, Blackburn relived an enthralling journey through the little-known aspects of the Titanic disaster to help them with their English
On a visit to the Merseyside Maritime Museum in Liverpool, pupils explored the role of the city in the creation of the Titanic and learned more about the sinking of, what was then, the largest ship in the
Told from perspectives of key personalities involved in the disaster, the exhibition entitled ‘Titanic and Liverpool: the untold story’, featured key insights into the events of the launch and voyage, as well as the ship’s sinking and the aftermath of the tragedy.
Pupils completed the Titanic independent trail at the exhibition, marvelling at some of the original artefacts from the voyage, including a lifejacket worn by a survivor, a first-class passenger ticket and relics such as glasses and wrist watches that were found amongst the wreckage of the ship at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean.
The museum trip feeds into the pupils’ writing, as they conducted a unit of work exploring the Titanic, which included writing a newspaper article on the events of the disaster with survivors’ eyewitness accounts.
After hearing many of the personal tales during their museum visit, pupils were able to confidently create realistic narratives from the perspective of passengers onboard the doomed passenger liner, through postcards and diary entries.
With the use of industry-standard technology and expert insight, pupils at Laisterdyke Leadership Academy enhanced their skills by creating a series of digital materials.
The school was visited by Sky Up Academy Studios, an immersive experience that places young people centre stage as media creators. The studio, run by global media organisation Sky, gave pupils the opportunity to engage and interact first-hand with the latest pioneering technology and digital devices used by the broadcasting and digital industries.
The project is part of a national initiative to help tackle digital inequality and make sure young people are not left behind when it comes to skills in creative media.
During their sessions with industry experts, each group of pupils was given the task of creating a campaign called ‘Pollution Free Planet’ for the Sky Zero climate project, encouraging local people to care more for the environment.
Pupils used Sky Up Academy’s pop-up studio, which contains a green screen and industry standard technology, to create digital billboard campaigns, featuring still and animated visuals, as well as social media posts and videos, to promote Sky Zero’s pollution free pledge.
A behind-the-scenes look at Sky’s marketing campaigns was followed by another creative challenge which saw pupils produce a Sky News-style report for the ‘The Daily Climate Show’. Pupils took active roles throughout the creative process, from production managers to scriptwriters and camera operators.
Careers masterclasses enabled the tech-savvy pupils to learn about some of the roles on offer in the media industry with an in-depth look behind the lens of the wide range of creative careers available.
It was a golden family affair at a European-wide Jiu Jitsu competition, with three sisters from Eden Girls’ School, Slough each winning a medal.
Sisters Ikrah, Ayesha and Mahila Qureshi proved themselves on one of the biggest competitive stages, all achieving podium finishes at the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Junior European Championships.
Ikrah, the school’s Head Girl, took home a gold at the competition in the lightweight discipline, along with a bronze medal in the absolute category. Her sisters Ayesha and Maliha won gold and silver medals in the lightweight and middle categories respectively.
All three sisters train at the Hillingdon BJJ Grand Union Club near the school, where they practice six times a week to perfect their skills and athleticism.
Thornbury Primary Leadership Academy’s early years foundation stage (EYFS) department has opened its very own veterinary surgery and welcomed its first patient, Roni the sausage dog.
The school’s reception children have been reading ‘A Superhero Like You’, a book by Dr Ranj Singh, which celebrates real life heroes such as doctors, firefighters and teachers.
Inspired by this book, the EYFS department – which was graded ‘outstanding’ in the school’s recent Ofsted inspection – brought this learning to life by teaching pupils about veterinary careers and how to look after animals.
Thornbury Vets’ first patient was reception teacher Miss Carter’s sausage dog, Roni. Teachers Miss O’Dowd and Miss Carter roleplayed as the owner and vet to act out a typical visit to a veterinary surgery. After Roni was checked in at the reception desk, he was given a check-up with a stethoscope and empty syringes, which were donated to the school by a local vet.
After watching the demonstration, pupils replicated much of what they had seen, acting as a receptionist and vets by giving check-ups and wrapping bandages to ‘injured’ soft toys. As well as supporting pupils to develop their verbal communication skills, the role play also inspired the children to write about animal habitats and to explore the sounds of animal names.
The EYFS department regularly provides children with exciting and innovative learning experiences that are linked to reading. To support their reading of ‘The Beeman’ by Laurie Krebs and Valeria Cis, Miss O’Dowd dressed in a Beekeeper’s outfit and the pupils tasted honey and honeycomb as they learned about the important roles bees play in food production.
Reception pupils also ran their own imaginary restaurant in class, which was inspired by ‘Binny’s Diwali’ by Thrity Umrigar. Acting out the roles of waiter, chef and customer helped pupils to put their communication skills and imagination to the test through creative learning.
Amy O’Dowd, Director of Learning for EYFS at Thornbury Primary Leadership Academy, explained: “We have a motto of making learning come to life for our children, to give them immersive experiences that they would not normally have. Learning through books helps to develop children’s love of reading whilst giving them experiences that they will remember for many years to come.”
A pupil from Eden Boys’ School, Birmingham who carried the Commonwealth Games 2022 baton has been recognised for his community work.
Year 11 pupil Mikael Sarwar won the Outstanding Achievement Award from Birmingham Youth Service for his services to the Games’ community activities programme,.
Mikael was one of the lucky few selected to carry the Queen’s baton on one of the final legs of the relay, which saw it pass through all 72 countries participating in last summer’s Games before it reached the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham.
A member of the Youth City Board for Birmingham, Mikael took an active role in the advisory group to the Bring The Power Youth Council and Birmingham City Council. Through this role, Mikael played a key role in supporting the public facing launch of the Queen’s Baton Relay, and planned and attended two residential city visits in Liverpool and London as a young ambassador to the Games.
Mikael also met with James Cleverly MP, then the Education Secretary, along with other members of the Youth City Board, to make sure young voices were being heard in relation to legacy projects.
Mikael was one of a number of pupils from his school to take an active part in the Games throughout the summer. A group of six pupils volunteered as chaperones for the athletes at the Alexandra Stadium, and were able to congratulate some of the most successful sport stars after they received their medals. Fellow pupil As’ad Khan also had the honour of carrying the baton – he transported the metal baton through the town of Sutton Coldfield in the lead up to the Games.
The whole school community at Eden Boys’ Leadership Academy, Bradford was united in the fight against discrimination as pupils supported a national anti-racism campaign.
Anti-bullying ambassadors at the school came together to work towards raising awareness of the Show Racism the Red Card charity campaign by hosting a series of themed assemblies, workshops and a charity football game.
Much of the campaigning took place on Wear Red Day, the charity’s annual National Day of Action, which encourages schools and organisations to wear red and fundraise to support anti-racism educational activities for young people.
As pupils proudly wore red, anti-bullying ambassadors led an assembly to educate their peers on the history and impact of racism. Together, they explored ways to tackle discrimination in schools and in wider society.
Throughout Wear Red Day, pupils also took part in antiracism workshops facilitated by The Linking Network, a charity which strives to develop young people’s understanding of diversity and identity. The workshops challenged pupils to think about stereotypes and their own experiences of hate speech. Ultimately, the sessions were designed to demonstrate how pupils can play an active role in society and how racism can be challenged safely.
Pupils and staff also came together to support Show Racism the Red Card’s fundraising drive, raising £550, through a bake sale and a charity football game, to demonstrate that discrimination has no place in sport.
The school have been in partnership with Arsenal in the Community for the past few years, with coaches from the Premier League club supporting the school’s PE teachers in delivering lessons.
Arsenal coaches have been delivering weekly high-quality PE sessions, leading targeted classroom interventions and social action projects.
Along with delivering football and other sports ‘the Arsenal way’, the coaches have helped to kick start breakfast clubs which involve physical activity and have also been keeping pupils active during break times.
The partnership has also given rise to exciting activities away from school, including tours of Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium. Earlier this year, a group of Year 3 and 4 children were even invited to follow in the footsteps of their heroes as they played on the stadium’s hallowed turf in the Arsenal Primary Stars Football Festival.
Language ambassadors from Starbank School experienced an immersive day of learning as they attended an Arabic Language Event run by the British Council.
Taking place at the Thinktank Science Museum in Birmingham, eight secondary pupils were introduced to the language by learning about Arabic culture while also practising calligraphy.
With over 400 million native speakers and a further 100 to 200 million people for whom it is their second language, Arabic ranks as the fourth most widely spoken language in the world and is one of the six official languages of the United Nations (UN).
Through talks and interactive workshops, pupils learned about the Arab world and the countries where Arabic is spoken, with an introduction to its food, music, geography and people.
One of the most engaging aspects of the event was a calligraphy workshop where pupils were taught how to form letters of the Arabic language. The handwriting technique has been found to engage the language portion of the brain, helping young people retain spellings of words better when writing it out by hand. The day culminated with a quiz where pupils could test their knowledge.
The event supported the pupils in their roles as the school’s language ambassadors. Their main responsibility is in promoting languages to pupils, such as organising extracurricular clubs, speaking in assemblies and organising the school’s European Language Day.
An important aspect of the role is in supporting other students with their language studies, including helping others with their homework and mentoring pupils who have English as an additional language.
After whetting pupils’ appetite at the event, the school’s Arabic club will introduce a wider group of pupils to Arabic culture and calligraphy through a programme of immersive activities, including virtual tours and food tasting.
to help them stay active and learn key skills.
Participants completed a series of challenges to test their resilience, develop their team building skills and improve their fitness.
UK Military School, a leadership development company founded and run by former British Army, Navy and Air Force personnel, were parachuted into the school to support pupils to develop key life skills outside the classroom.
Activities – including an obstacle course, archery and Zorb football – gave pupils an opportunity to participate in new activities that would challenge them both physically and mentally.
The former armed forces personnel also set the pupils problem-solving tasks to test their mental resilience. Teamwork and communication skills were the order of the day as pupils were tasked with transporting water between two places using limited resources.
Simone Hawksworth, Director of Learning at Eden Girls’ Leadership Academy, Manchester said: “Leadership opportunities enable our girls to show their resilience, teamwork and character development, whilst also challenging them to grow as individuals.”
The programme, which was launched to Year 9 pupils in September, will see the recruits following the ethos, traditions and values of the armed services while completing a training syllabus with basic and specialist topics.
The school’s CCF, which is an optional extra-curricular activity, will be attached to the Grenadier Guards Household Division in London. It has been set up to help pupils learn valuable life-skills and instil values that will inspire them to reach their full potential and to contribute to wider school life and their communities.
The cadets will take part in challenging and adventurous activities linked to the armed forces, such as first aid, survival skills, navigation, shooting and drills. The group will also represent the school at local community events, such as Remembrance Day.
Along with developing their leadership skills, the cadet programme also nurtures young people to cultivate qualities such as self-discipline, confidence, resilience and respect.
The school’s cadet force is led by Company Sergeant Major (CSM) John Spooner who served in 2nd Battalion Grenadier Guards for over five years.
CSM Spooner said: “This is a very exciting extra-curricular activity for our young people to broaden their social skills with personal discipline and structure.
“Our links to the Grenadier Guards will give our pupils a massive sense of pride knowing that they are representing an elite regiment. I’m hoping pupils become more confident, hold a high standard of pride and respect for others and themselves, whilst gaining skills that will complement those learned in the classroom.”
Year 8 pupils at Eden Girls’ Leadership Academy, Manchester were put through their paces by ex-soldiers on a Leadership Day at the school.A series of social action initiatives have provided the platform for pupils at Small Heath Leadership Academy to hone their leadership skills whilst supporting the work of charities across the globe.
Through the First Give programme, Year 8 pupils have been learning about social issues affecting their communities –locally, nationally and internationally. A series of lessons, assemblies and workshops has piqued pupils’ interest and inspired them to use their voices to raise awareness and raise funds.
After researching social injustices and humanitarian disasters, pupils identified causes close to their hearts. Each class then selected a specific charity or campaign to lend their voices to. In their teams, pupils devised a social action campaign before
presenting it to a panel of judges for the chance to win a £1,000 donation to their chosen cause.
From flood relief in Pakistan to domestic abuse, issues captured the pupils’ imaginations and ignited their social conscience. They worked tirelessly to promote their chosen cause around the school and to raise funds for the associated charities.
One group arranged for a representative of a local charity to visit and deliver a year group assembly on the Pakistan floods, whilst another wrote to the local MP, who is a high-profile campaigner on the issue of domestic abuse.
Groups within each class will present their work to their peers before voting for the team that will represent their class in the final. The programme will culminate in a grand final at the end of the autumn term when pupils will compete for the £1,000 prize.
Year 4 pupils at The Olive School, Small Heath have become Junior Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) as part of an innovative scheme run by West Midlands Police.
A special graduation ceremony was held at the end of November which concluded the project which has seen 10 weekly lessons held, each tackling a different subject of concern around the community.
The programme aims to educate children and empower schools to tackle issues such as parking, bullying and litter around their school sites. By raising awareness of the dangers that exist in and around schools, the initiative sees schools working with the police and their local communities to create safer environments for all.
From parking responsibly to staying safe online, PCSOs from the local Yardley police force have delivered a series of lessons to teach pupils about their personal safety and how they can encourage others to help make their community a safer place.
Inspired by the programme, pupils have taken part in a litter pick to improve the environment around the school. The Year 4 pupils have also designed their own parking tickets to educate drivers about the dangers of inconsiderate parking.
The next stage of the newly-appointed Junior PCSOs’ plans to improve school safety will see them join local police officers on their patrols outside the school at the beginning and end of the
Eden Boys’ Leadership Academy, Birmingham East celebrated the power of diversity on Odd Socks Day.
In November, pupils and staff participated in Anti-Bullying Alliance’s annual day as part of Anti-Bullying Week, with people across the country uniting to end bullying across all walks of life.
This year’s theme was ‘Reach Out’, which encouraged children to open up to their peers, adults and support networks to break the cycle of bullying.
Joining schools across Star, pupils and staff at Eden Boys’ Leadership Academy, Birmingham East donned bright and mismatched coloured socks to highlight that everyone is different in their own way. Donations were also raised towards the Anti-Bullying Alliance charity, which helps support teachers, parents and carers to protect their children, while also leading on influencing national policy so that the UK is a world leader in preventing bullying.
Throughout Odd Socks Day and across Anti-Bullying Week, pupils at the school took part in workshops exploring the role that they can play in preventing bullying. Pupils also wrote and signed their own Anti-Bullying Pledge, which set out their collective determination to reduce and prevent bullying in the school and in the community.
Pupils from The Olive School, Bolton were crowned school quiz champions after a hotly-contested tournament.
The school’s team of four Year 6 pupils overcame tough opposition from other local primary schools from the Bolton area to win the coveted primary school quiz competition.
Two teams of four Year 6 pupils represented the school in the annual contest, which was hosted by Sharples Secondary School. The team members’ knowledge was put to the test as they participated in numerous taxing rounds – including mental arithmetic, geography and general knowledge – before they excelled in a spelling bee to clinch the contest.
The Olive School, Bolton’s winning team only dropped one point throughout the whole competition to take home the Quiz League Trophy, while also earning £150 of classroom resources to further inspire future winners.
Parents have been discovering the joy of reading at new library sessions at Barkerend Primary Leadership Academy.
To support Star’s focus of developing a world class book culture, the school has introduced twice-weekly sessions to support parents to read with their child from an early age.
As reading plays such an important role in a child’s overall development, the sessions are designed to support parents and carers, who may not be confident readers themselves, to understand the value of reading and the transformative impact it can have on their child’s academic progress.
Facilitated by the pastoral team, parents are welcomed into the school’s libraries to read with the children at the start of the school day. Pupils, together with their parent, can look through the displays, before settling down in a comfy place to lose themselves in the pages of their chosen book.
With staff on hand to support, parents are encouraged to ask their child questions about the book to further develop their language
Ann Winter, Principal at Barkerend Primary Leadership Academy, said: “We’ve had an amazing turn out for our parent reading sessions – our parents tell us they love coming in as it makes them feel part of the school.
“It has been fantastic to see the joy that can come from shared reading; the growing confidence and strengthened relationships between parents and children have confirmed the value of this initiative.”
The library at Eden Boys’ School, Bolton has been given a new lease of life following the launch of a new events programme.
Librarians at the school have devised a weekly calendar of literary lunchtime activities to nurture pupils’ love of reading and encourage them to discover new books, authors and genres.
A book club, creativity workshops, games and film adaptations of literary classics all feature on the school’s book-themed event programme.
The annual events calendar features national and international cultural celebrations, such as World Book Day, Black History Month and Mental Health Awareness Week, which give a literary-twist to established events in the school calendar. During Black History Month, as part of the library events programme, pupils created artwork, short stories and poetry inspired by 2022 theme ‘Action Not Words’. Pupils’ creative talents were showcased through a Black History Month display in the library and in classrooms and corridors across the school.
As part of its extensive extra-curricular programme for sixth form students, Tauheedul Islam Girls’ High School and Sixth Form College (TIGHS) hosted an event featuring a roster of influential female leaders.
The annual ‘Inspire and Aspire Leadership Conference’ featured talks from inspirational female role models to inform students’ career choices and motivate them to choose fulfilling vocations.
Amongst the guest speakers sharing their astounding stories was Misba Khan, the first British Muslim to take part in an Arctic expedition to the North Pole. Misba talked of her challenging journey and urged students to draw on her own experiences to find the strength and courage to overcome any barriers they may face in their future education, career or life.
The conference is part of the school’s Aspiration Programme – a series of weekly enrichment activities for sixth form students to widen their experiences and develop their leadership skills, to support them to lead successful and rewarding lives. Although much of the enrichment programme is centred around inspiring future careers and further education – such as journalism, coding and university applications – sports and creativity also form key themes of the programme. This year students will have the opportunity to try their hand at a diverse range of activities including martial arts, photography, British Sign Language, textiles and calligraphy.
Danyal Farooq won the Muay Thai Boxing World Junior Championship title after beating a French competitor in the final of the international contest in Coventry.
The martial art of Muay Thai has its origins in 16th century Thailand. It is known as the ‘art of eight limbs’ and is characterised by the combined use of fists, elbows, knees and shins.
The 13-year-old had to overcome a number of challenges to reach the final, but proved his merit with an accomplished performance in the title decider. Danyal won all five of the oneminute rounds in the final to clinch the world title belt in style. Danyal has trained in the sport since he was seven, at Impact Gym in Rochdale, and also holds the British title in the discipline, which he won back in June.
Pupils at The Olive School, Preston took their parents on an informative journey across Europe in a special knowledge-rich assembly.
The geography curriculum was brought to life by pupils adopting the roles of explorers to lead their audience on an awe-inspiring trip across the continent on ‘Olive Airlines’.
As well as showcasing their newly-acquired knowledge of European languages, the young tour guides taught their travellers about the different cultures and landscapes that makes each country unique, from the Scandinavian countries in Northern Europe to the Mediterranean territories in the south.
The pupils also demonstrated their artistic talents by performing a song about the continents, before bringing their European tour to a memorable climax with an entertaining rap about Europe.
A Year 9 pupil at Oulder Hill Leadership Academy has been crowned as a world champion in Thai boxing.
For this edition of Star People, we’re getting to know Mouhssin Ismail, Regional Director / Executive Principal at Star Academies. Mouhssin, who was the founding principal of one of the country’s most successful sixth form colleges, is the driving force behind Star’s Elite University Preparation Programme. In this article, Mouhssin discusses why it is important for pupils to dream big and what drives him to raise the bar in young people’s education.
What are the key aims of Star’s Elite University Preparation Programme?
It is ultimately designed to support our pupils to prepare for some of the most competitive universities both in the UK and abroad, whilst raising aspirations about what is possible for their future education. But it’s no good helping them to dream big without giving pupils the support to do it. The Elite University Preparation Programme has already seen our pupils access talks from academics and visit Oxbridge and Ivy League universities in the US. When the time comes, we will be providing sessions and expert supervision to support pupils to apply for these elite universities.
What can secondary pupils do now to make themselves more desirable candidates for future applications?
The main priority for schools is to make sure pupils secure strong GCSE results and actively engage in lessons. The top universities are looking for applicants who are inquisitive, have a thirst for knowledge and develop their reasoning skills by asking deep and insightful questions. They expect students to be able to articulate their thinking
clearly, coherently and confidently and demonstrate exceptional flexibility of thought. To be able to do this, pupils should be proactively seeking to practise these skills in lessons and outside of the classroom too. Universities have told us that they’re looking for applicants who are also adept at talking about the things they really enjoy outside of the classroom, such as their interests and hobbies. Young people should throw themselves in and take advantage of the full gamut of opportunities presented to them.
What aspect of your job gives you the greatest satisfaction?
I left my previous profession as a Banking and Finance lawyer to work in education as I felt my state education did not provide the level of challenge that young people who attend independent schools benefit from. I joined Star because I want to help create a state education system which places academic rigour at its heart and that raises aspirations for young people from the most disadvantaged areas. I thoroughly enjoy the broad nature of the job; one morning I could be supporting a school to improve its standards of behaviour and then, that afternoon,
be talking to Harvard University about creating new opportunities for Star pupils. The requirement to think both strategically and operationally on a multitude of different issues means you are constantly being challenged. I also have the opportunity to work with lots of dedicated, committed and talented school leaders which is extremely rewarding.
Who was your favourite teacher at school and why?
My English teacher Miss Turner was somebody who I looked up to. She made the subject really interesting and I loved the way she was able to open the door to concepts and themes rather than on just a superficial level. Her energy for the subject and her ability to connect with young people was what really inspired me.
What are you currently reading? I’m currently making my way through The Advantage by Patrick Lencioni, a business book about how to gain a competitive advantage. I’m also reading several books on leadership, which is a genre and skillset that I’m trying to increase my knowledge and understanding in.
Kulsum Vali has been appointed Associate Principal at Eden Girls’ Leadership Academy, Manchester
Shazia Akram has been appointed Principal at Eden Girls’ School, Coventry
Aamena Mayet has been appointed Principal at Eden Girls’ School, Waltham Forest
Anand Patel has been appointed Principal at Highfield Leadership Academy
Likhon Muhammad has been appointed Principal at Oulder Hill Leadership Academy
Shahnaz Akhtar has been appointed Principal at Tauheedul Islam Girls’ High School and Sixth Form College
Colette Roberts has been appointed Principal at The Valley Leadership Academy