Leeds social justice campaigner heading to Cambridge

A young campaigner who has advocated for policy reform on knife crime and asylum-seeking children is heading to Cambridge after achieving top A-level grades.

Naemi, who attended Mount St Mary’s Catholic High School before securing a bursary to attend The Grammar School at Leeds (GSAL), achieved two A*s and two As. She will take up her place to study law in October and aspires to become a human rights lawyer.

As a youth ambassador to the Children’s Commissioner for England, Naemi shaped Home Office proposals to introduce violence reduction hubs in high-crime areas across the country. “As someone who comes from a high-crime area myself, I wanted to stress the importance of incorporating digital tools to allow vulnerable people and particularly women and girls to access anonymised support,” Naemi said.

Naemi has also advocated for asylum-seeking children in care, particularly regarding the importance of cultural and heritage events in fostering support networks and promoting positive mental health.

Alongside her campaigning work, Naemi has fundraised to support girls’ education in Afghanisation: a topic she felt had been “ignored” by mainstream media following the Taliban takeover in 2021. Rallying headteachers from five different school communities across Leeds, she has raised funds and stationery supplies for the cause. “As someone whose parents were unable to access higher education because of social, political and economic barriers, I felt compelled to do what I could,” she explained. “It made me realise that you can achieve anything as long as you have passion, people and persistence.”

Michael Hall, Principal at GSAL, said, “Naemi is a shining example of what hard work, ambition and humanity combined can achieve. We are so proud of her accomplishments and wish her all the very best with her studies at Cambridge and beyond.”

This year, 58% of A-levels at GSAL were awarded top A/A* grades. Fifteen pupils achieved at least three A*s, while seven students scored A*s in at least three subjects plus an A* in their Extended Project Qualification (EPQ). This year’s talented cohort includes three footballers of the future, twins heading to the same prestigious university to study the same course and one of the top young mathematicians in the country.

 

Image caption (above): Naemi, a student at The Grammar School at Leeds, is heading to Cambridge after achieving top grades in her A-levels