Lawn Manor Academy pupils inspired by past pupils' achievements

The achievements of past pupils of Lawn Manor Academy are to be recorded on a new wall of fame.

The aim is to inspire the young people currently studying there.

Marek Koza, assistant headteacher with responsibility for achievement, and his colleagues have tracked down a range of ex-pupils who have since carved out successful careers in professions as diverse as journalism, medicine, engineering and professional football.

“We created a new area in school which we call the Lawn Manor Academy Role Models, with A1 posters with photos and stories of past pupils and their successes,” said Mr Koza.

“If pupils see that others before them have achieved amazing things, it improves their own motivation and confidence, and ultimately their life chances."

The former pupils have told their own stories about how they moved on from their school years at Lawn Manor Academy to follow their dreams, and through hard work and talent have excelled within their own field.

They include Alastair Senior, of the Class of 2011, who developed a love for physics and maths at Lawn Manor Academy and, despite being diagnosed with cancer while working for his A Levels, won a place at the University of Cambridge to study engineering. 

He is now free of cancer and has since worked on Formula 1 on summer placements and currently uses machine learning to do research into the design of jet engines.

“If I was to give advice to someone at Lawn Manor now,” said Alastair, “it would be to seek to do the best you can with what you have, even in the things you don’t enjoy. Don’t worry about what you’re achieving compared to other people – everyone is unique with unique gifts.”

Class of 2012 student Samantha Tapfumaneyi studied GCSEs at Lawn Manor Academy before taking A Levels at Royal Wootton Bassett Academy. She is now a media coordinator and producer with CNN International in London, covering some of the world’s biggest news stories. 

A teacher inspired her to study politics.

She said: “I was accepted at Westminster University to study journalism, but on results day I did better than I thought I would, and as I enjoyed politics because of Mr Morgan, my teacher, I switched courses to study Politics and International Relations there instead.

“I have had opportunities to report at places such as Downing Street, covering stories such as the Leveson Inquiry and the British Airways hacking, leading me to be nominated for Female Personality of the Year.

“I am inspired by strong women who refuse to be ignored, and I aspire to be a strong voice and presence for my generation and to push for diversity in journalism in the UK.”

Lily Starling, who left Lawn Manor Academy in 2018, is studying medicine at the University of Exeter, and hopes to work in emergency medicine or become a surgeon.

“I didn’t know what I wanted to do when I was at school, but I knew I wanted to help people and I always enjoyed science and maths," she said.

"I had good teachers and worked hard, and at sixth form college volunteered on the trauma unit in hospital, which made me interested in becoming a doctor. 

"The whole idea still seemed a bit scary – but now I’m in Exeter, have made very good friends and have the opportunity of spending a couple of years studying in Truro, where I get to spend my free time beach surfing, which is amazing!”

Liam Homes, who also left Lawn Manor Academy in 2018, had to switch his A Level subjects because he unexpectedly found himself with responsibilities for caring in his first year of sixth form. He began studying Ancient History in the second year, and received an offer from Cambridge to study history.

He said: “The most important lesson I’ve learned so far is that everyone’s journey is different, independent of what their friends are doing or the circumstances they inherit. I hope to go into research and academia – these are fields which for too long have under-represented those from the most disadvantaged backgrounds, especially in the humanities.”

At just 17 years of age, footballer Marcus Ifill is the youngest face on the new Wall of Fame. He played for Swindon Town’s youth team before being sold to Brighton in early 2020. 

The Guardian named Marcus as one of the country’s top 20 young talents in football, describing him as “...an electric and wiry winger, comfortable on either flank. The first-year scholar’s pace is arguably his best asset but his crossing and shooting are equally key attributes. He still has lots to work on but is regarded as an exciting prospect, who ticked every box in terms of fitting into the club's front-foot style, while his work ethic and attitude also struck academy staff…  Part of Brighton's under-18s, but the club believe he can blossom into a first-team player.”

Lawn Manor Academy, which is part of the Royal Wootton Bassett Academy Trust, is working with UK education charity Futures First to connect with former pupils who can inspire current pupils to widen their horizons and aim high.

Mr Koza said: “With the support of Futures First we are now building up a thriving alumni community, so when they leave at the end of Year 11 they have access to role models who they can relate to, can help them understand what they can achieve, and give them some of the knowledge and tools to help them to get there.

“This networking is something the private education sector has been doing well for years. At Lawn Manor Academy we want to make sure that being educated in a state school doesn’t mean pupils are excluded from role models who can inspire and help them. 

"Everyone deserves the opportunity to make the best they can of their lives, and we aim to give them every opportunity we can.”