“I used to have a big fear of public speaking and putting forward my ideas in fear of humiliation. Now I feel confident enough to develop and voice my own ideas while also creating a safe space for others to contribute and learn.”
The Leadership Skills Foundation is delighted to announce Madeleine Khan of Teign School in Devon as our 2024 Learner of the Year – congratulations!
The Learner of the Year Award is our annual moment to recognise the inspiring stories and remarkable progress made by the young people who take on our qualifications and awards.
Applying for the award is a perfect opportunity for learners and tutors to take a look at the impact and progress made through leadership skills programmes. As young people build their skills and grow their confidence, they often become a force for good within their community of their peer groups, taking the lead in a variety of activities and sessions or getting involved in volunteering projects.
To be considered for the award, learners are required to complete statement outlining their progress, supported by a short video, giving them the chance to highlight their most significant moments in their journey and the impact they feel they have made. This also allows them an opportunity to reflect on the skills they have developed and how they have made a difference in their community.
This year saw more entries than in previous years, making it a tough task for the judging panel. After reviewing all the entries, Madeleine was chosen as this year’s winner, alongside two highly commended entries:
Madeleine Khan (Devon) – Learner of the Year 2024
Luke Saunders (Wrexham) – Highly Commended
Alka Hirani (London) – Highly Commended
“Maddy truly deserves to be the winner. She has been an inspiration to every student along the way and engaged so many students who otherwise may never have been involved.”
In her application for the award, Madeleine highlighted the moment she felt like she could make a difference as a result of her skills. She said: “I can’t believe I’ve won this award – thank you so much!
“Over the course of my Dance and Sports Leadership qualifications, I’ve worked really hard to step out of my comfort zone and try new things, so my self-belief has grown the most.
“Now I can confidently choreograph and teach my own routines, plan my own sessions to help students develop their own skills and I am confident in coaching other girls to become sports leader themselves.
“For me, my ‘lightbulb’ moment was when I was leading our school’s PE Ambassadors meeting about healthy eating in schools – that was the first time I realised that through my confidence, younger learners were looking up to me and mirroring my resilient attitude.
“I used to have a big fear of public speaking and putting forward my ideas in fear of humiliation. Now I feel confident enough to develop and voice my own ideas while also creating a safe space for others to contribute and learn.”
Madeleine’s tutor, Ben Storry, was delighted to hear that she had won the award. He said: “It was brilliant news to hear to Maddy had won the award – everyone at the school is really pleased for her and proud of her achievement.
“Maddy truly deserves to be the winner – she has been innovative and inspirational from the get-go, volunteering to run and organise a primary school flight and gymnastics festival to over 150 students, which was a huge success.
“She has volunteered over 100 hours at her own dance club, lunch time rehearsal, numerous primary festivals and organised, advertised and choreographed her own dance show. She has also led the PE ambassadors and been pivotal in a schoolwide campaign to improve canteen food for all.
“Maddy has been an inspiration to every student along the way and engaged so many students who otherwise may never have been involved.”
While Madeleine still has a year left in Sixth Form, she already has a clear idea of what she wants to do next: “I can’t wait to keep pushing myself out of my comfort zone”, she says.
“In the future I aim to use my love of sport and science to help people live a happy, healthy and active life.
“I want to go to medical school to become a cardiologist and help people maintain a healthy heart and I want to continue volunteering with activity clubs to promote more female involvement in sport.
“My leadership qualification has made me more versatile and has helped me to develop a range of skills as a result of leading and volunteering with people of all ages.
“In particular, I currently lead a branch of the ‘Girls Active’ campaign in my school, creating opportunities for girls from secondary and primary schools to take part in sport and learn more about the human body.
“With my degree, I hope to keep being part of this campaign, encouraging more schools to participate as well as creating more opportunities for women to play sport and develop their knowledge.
“The world of female sport is still growing and I hope to play my part in changing it for the better.”
The awarding panel that chose Madeleine as this year’s winner felt that her application showed outstanding leadership of her peers and a genuine desire to make a difference to her community and society. Through her journey, she has experienced first-hand the impact an individual can have on those around them, which in turn has boosted her confidence and encouraged her to keep seeking new ways to encourage and support more people.