On Monday evening, we were delighted to welcome Taiyeba and Jumana as guest speakers at our Year 9-13 Senior School Prizegiving in Croydon Minster. In addition to the their emotional and inspirational speech, they were also able to award the inaugural ‘Dr Salma Hussain Award for Special Contribution to Drama’ to Madinah (below); a worthy recipient.
Outgoing Head Girls Alison and Suraiya also addressed the audience for the final time as leaders of the school.
The evening was certainly a celebration of student achievement and beautiful musical talent.
Photo gallery:
Taiyeba Sulemanji attended Old Palace of John Whitgift School from 1998-2008.
Following her A Levels she attended University of Southampton to study International Relations BSc and upon graduation accepted an internship in Washington DC for a year to gain both international experience and an introduction to politics in another country. On her return to the UK, Taiyeba began working in the not-for-profit sector; during this time, she developed skills in programme and project management, facilitation and corporate fundraising in charities including The Scout Association and Versus Arthritis. Whilst working she completed a Masters in Voluntary Sector Management at Cass Business School (City University). Taiyeba moved to the Public Sector working for the Department for Education specifically in Adult Skills and is currently a Senior Project Manager commissioning and delivering T Level Qualifications for the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE).
Jumana Ebrahim left OPS in 2000 and went to Cambridge to study medicine, then choosing to complete the second half of her medical undergraduate course in London. After qualifying she then went on to specialise as a Radiologist, all the while bringing up her two children who are now 12 and 15. At school she was the first official photographer (a role she made up for herself!) and loved the opportunity to stage manage behind the scenes at school performances. Jumana credits the support and guidance of the teachers and staff at OPS for having had the confidence to reach for her goals and now is herself a keen educator, working in medical education and school outreach.