Message from Rt Hon Sadiq Khan MP: We all have a special teacher whose memory stays with us into adulthood, helping to inspire and tokeep on achieving years after we’ve left their lessons behind. I had more than one, but one who particularly deserves credit is Syed ‘Naz’ Bokhari, my old headteacher at Ernest Bevin College, who sadly died a year ago. He encouraged generations of boys at Ernest Bevin to raise their aspirations and oversaw a prolonged period of improvement which has continued to this day (Ernest Bevin was recently classed as ‘Outstanding’ by OFSTED). He was an important role model for me and many of my peers – to see the most senior job in the school being done by an excellent professional, who also happened to be British, Asian, male and Muslim, was inspirational.
On 7th March I’ll be joined by over 160 headteachers, teachers and educational professionals and HRH Princess Badiya bint El Hassan of Jordan, to launch the Naz Legacy Foundation, which aims to promote educational excellent and positive integration in society and our education system. It will be a fantastic event, and a fitting legacy to a great teacher and friend.
