SHEFFIELD PARK ACADEMY ENJOYS VISIT FROM SECRETARY OF STATE FOR EDUCATION AS PART OF NATIONAL CAREERS WEEK

Louise Innocent / 10 March 2022 / Categories: News

Today, students and staff at Sheffield Park Academy welcomed The Rt Hon Nadhim Zahawi, Secretary of State for Education, who gave an insightful talk about his life story and career so far.

The event, organised by Speakers for Schools, formed part of our involvement in National Careers Week. Each year, this week is an excellent opportunity to encourage students in every year group to consider what qualifications and skills they need to reach their goals and to open up the world of work for them as they get older.  

Mr Zahawi spoke to students from Year 10, Year 11 and Sheffield South East VI Form about his early life growing up in Baghdad and the journey he and his family endured as they fled to the UK due to threat of persecution from Saddam Hussein’s regime. Mr Zahawi went on to study Chemical Engineering at university before entering Parliament in 2010 as the Conservative MP for Stratford-upon-Avon.

Following his talk, the Secretary of State took a range of questions from students, including from Year 10 Yalina who asked what advice he would give to a young person going into their first working environment. In response, Mr Zahawi said to ask plenty of questions, learn your field and become as knowledgeable as possible.

Throughout his visit, the Secretary of State took time to speak to students at length about their ambitions and academic life at the academy. He gave our young people interesting and practical advice about their future careers, including to find a job they enjoy and where they can take pride in their work.

Roland Freeman, Principal at Sheffield Park Academy said:

“We were so pleased to welcome the Secretary of State to the academy today to help us mark National Careers Week. Mr Zahawi has had a very interesting and inspirational journey in his personal and professional life so we are delighted that he was able to take the time out of his schedule to visit us and share his experiences with our students and how he achieved his ambition, and the knowledge and determination that was needed on this journey. Each year, Careers Week is an invaluable opportunity to encourage our young people to think about their own ambitions for their futures and the qualifications they’ll need to achieve them and is extremely important to us given our mission statement to create Sheffield’s influential young leaders of tomorrow. I know that today’s visit is something that will be very memorable for us all and has already sparked many positive discussions among our students.”

Jason Elsom, Chief Executive Officer, Speakers for Schools, commented:

“We are delighted to work with inspirational speakers such as The Right Honourable Nadhim Zahawi, Secretary of State for Education, who shared his inspirational story in Sheffield today. Thanks to Nadhim and our network of over 1,500 speakers who give their time and expertise, young people from state schools and colleges have the opportunity to meet societal leaders, who can inspire them to consider futures that they may otherwise have never thought possible.”