VISIT OF PROFESSOR ALEC CAMERON Vice Chancellor of Aston University On May 17th we played host to Professor Alec Cameron, Vice chancellor and Chief Executive of Aston University along with his colleague Mr David Farrow, Executive Director for their first ever visit to the school. Professor Cameron and Mr Farrow met with Headteacher Dr Bird, and Deputy Headteacher Mr Conway, before being given a tour of the school by our new Head Boy, Hasnain Sumar and Head Girl Deborah Sepo. Aston University is a popular destination for many of our students, with over thirty students each year choosing to study there. It has a fine reputation nationally and internationally and has recently opened a new medical school, to help to develop the next generation of doctors. Professor Cameron and Mr Farrow were both extremely complimentary about the school, and the students they met. They were both keen to stress the importance of building a strong, long-term relationship with our school, and we look forward to welcoming them back to HGS in the future. Mr Conway Last November Awez Khan from Year 13 spoke in Parliament about a key issue affecting young people in Birmingham and one that had affected him very personally. Awez is one of Birmingham’s five representatives in the British Youth Parliament or Young People’s Parliament. The Youth Parliament sat in the House of Commons to discuss issues affecting young people today. In an impassioned speech, which was later reported on by the Birmingham Mail, Awez spoke about the dangers facing young people in inner cities at the moment and the devastating effects of knife crime. Awez told fellow youth parliamentarians and Commons Speaker John Bercow about the death of a close personal friend as a result of knife crime and the devastating affect this had had on him and the victim’s family. His speech was televised and his articulate and confident delivery impressed many observers. Awez secured a place at this school at the age of eleven, and he thinks that this has given him a huge opportunity. He is keen to study civil engineering at university but also harbours political ambitions. He was elected to the YPP, following a successful campaign where he spoke at a number of different schools, delivering assemblies and presentations to canvass opinion, but also to encourage young voters to elect him. We look forward to him continuing to make a real contribution to issues affecting the young people of this city. YOUTH PARLIAMENT Awez Khan from Year 13 Speaks About Knife Crime in the British Youth Parliament 24