Secondary Head Teacher of the Year sponsored by Electricity North West

NAME - Mubaaruck Ibrahim

AGE – 43

SCHOOL: Tauheedul Islam Boys’ High School

Based - Shadsworth Road, Blackburn

Number of pupils – 512

School mission/vision – Nurturing today’s young people, inspiring tomorrow’s leaders

STRONG leadership is something Mubaaruck Ibrahim has shown in spades since he took over at the Blackburn school three years ago. “TIBHS experienced a period of turbulence prior to Mubaaruck’s appointment, the type of turbulence that would see most schools go into a category,” said Angela Aspinall, who works at the school. “Mubaaruck however was unfazed!”

His list of achievements since he took over in 2014 is impressive. He has led the school through three inspections and been judged outstanding each time; secured an Investors In People Gold Award (IIP) and a Basic Skills Mark; been designated as a National Leader in Education and the school is now a National Support School.

On top of that, last summer 95 per cent of students gained five or more GCSEs and 73 per cent secured English Baccalaureates.

During his time at the school he has also developed links with the community and one afternoon a week students in year 11 are involved in community service work. There is also a sports coaching programme in place, enabling all students to be taken off the timetable for one afternoon a week to be coached in a sport of their choice.

All of these changes have led to Mr Ibrahim being shortlisted by the Times Educational Supplement for their Head Teacher of the Year and now, being named the outright winner of our Lancashire Telegraph Schools’ Award.

“It’s incredibly humbling to be given this award. I am but one ingredient in the TIBHS recipe for success. For me to be recognised in this way is testament to the hard work of all members of staff across our school, and to our students themselves who achieve excellent results year in, year out – so I share this accolade with them.

“It is a privilege to work as part of a team that is achieving its goal of providing local young people with an excellent education. I feel incredibly proud that our school – a Lancashire school - is one of the highest performing schools in the country, in the top 1 per cent of all UK schools for progress and overall performance.

“Our focus on academic excellence, coupled with our vision of nurturing today’s young people, inspiring tomorrow’s leaders, is successfully producing well-rounded young men of strong character who leave TIBHS ready to play an active role in Blackburn, Lancashire and in modern Britain. That’s what makes me most proud.”