Young, Gifted & Brummie

YAKUB FOLLOWING A NERVOUS WAIT, THE TALENTED YOUNG DANCER RETURNED TO OUR SCREENS AFTER BEING PICKED FOR THE BGT SEMI-FINALS SAUNDERS

Our favourite pocket rocket is back on the BGT stage wowing judges with a moving performance to Elton John’s Can You Feel the Love? Ashley Banjo’s socks were blown right off as Yakub flipped and spun his way through a confident and touching performance. Yakub’s ‘buzzing to be back’ and managing to keep his nerves in check. He says: “I’m so excited. It’s the biggest and best thing I have ever done in my life.”

You might remember Yakub initially took to the Britain’s Got Talent stage in Brum with an explosive routine that left the judges agog. Aged just 10-years-old at the time, Yakub’s high energy moves to the Lion King’s He Lives in You lit up the Hippodrome. Four unquestioning nods from the judges were met with a quiet ‘thank you’ before Yakub headed off stage to hug his proud foster carer, Juliet.

It was Juliet who nurtured Yakub’s talent enrolling him at Mezzo Dance Company in Harborne and Stratford shortly after fostering him and his sister. Before then, Yakub had never danced in an official setting, but Juliet thought the siblings would benefit from the focus dance requires as well as building friendships and ultimately having fun. It turns out Yakub is naturally gifted and took to it straight away.

STANDING OVATION

Despite having only a couple of lessons a week, Yakub trains non-stop at home on the tumble track in the garden. Juliet says that, taking into account the time

Yakub trains at home, he probably racks up around 12 hours. Having never danced in front of anything like the 4,000-strong crowd, Yakub’s nerves got the better of him in his dummy run at the initial BGT audition, but he rose to the occasion in his actual performance and nailed it receiving a standing ovation. Obviously Yakub’s dance teachers are incredibly proud of him. Teacher, Adam says: “Yakub has always had that spark – he just needed to believe in himself a bit more. To have such an amazing talent at only 10 years of age is incredible. It is so rewarding for us to see one of our dancers do so well. We really believe in him. He is the hardest working little lad.”

Having had to persuade social services that it was a good idea for Yakub to enter the competition, Juliet was keen for BGT to be a positive experience whatever happened and thankfully it was. She says that everyone on the show has been lovely and particularly Ant and Dec are brilliant with Yakub backstage, so she can breathe a big sigh of relief.

CONFIDENCE BOOST

After his semi-final performance, judge Ashley Banjo told Yakub: “You have everything apart from one thing – a little bit of self-belief.” Juliet thinks BGT has made a massive difference to Yakub’s confidence. She says: “Yakub has had an amazing BGT journey and making the semi-final has completely boosted his confidence.” ■

BUDDING SAILOR Max Morgan from Bromsgrove PrePreparatory School has completed his Royal Yachting Association Level 1 certificate – at the age of just five! Most sailing clubs don’t accept Level 1 learners until they are eightyears-old, but Abersoch Sailing School in north Wales made an exception after being contacted by Max’s parents. “We are so proud Max has achieved this at such a young age and we love how much he likes being on the water,” said his dad.

CAREER GIRLS

Moreton Hall school has been nominated for a top award to recognise the success of its Careers and Futures advice and guidance programme. The accolade in the Independent School of the Year Awards recognises the many initiatives introduced by Moreton’s careers team. For head of careers Catherine Ashworth, life skills co-ordinator Sarah Pritchard and senior sixth form tutor and UCAS advisor Caroline Lang, it’s an endorsement of the department’s commitment to young people. SCHOOL REPORT

FRIENDS REUNITED

When Hallfield School became co-educational in 1995, Amelia Derry, pictured, was the first girl to join and to mark the 25-year anniversary, the school held a reunion at Edgbaston Golf Club. The event also marked the launch of Hallfield Seniors which is an extension of the school’s educational offering to incorporate years 7 and 8 making Hallfield the only prep school in the city offering co-educational learning to aged 13.

PPE FOR SCHOOLS Jaguar Land Rover has donated 1,000 reusable protective face visors to schools in Halewood, Warwickshire and the West Midlands as pupils returned to classrooms. Designed and produced by JLR, the visors were initially manufactured to fulfil the need for frontline NHS staff at the start of the pandemic. Each visor can be easily cleaned for reuse, ideal for school staff interacting with different groups of students each day.

VIRTUAL SUCCESS

Midland Expressway, operators of the M6toll, has handed Midlands Air Ambulance Charity a £15,000 cash boost to launch its Sky Champs Education Programme online for teachers. Throughout lockdown the charity provided Sky Champs education packs, which are in line with the National Curriculum, to help those working from home to occupy their children during school closures. The new funding will see education and training programmes support teachers and teaching assistants in Midlands schools.

BIG WIN

South and City College Birmingham has scooped a top award at the internationallyrenowned RoSPA Health and Safety Awards. The vocational college was named winner of the Education and Training Services Sector award. The awards are open to organisations worldwide and entrants must demonstrate a robust and high-quality safety management system as well as consistently excellent or continuously improving health and safety performance.

TOP BRASS

Awards for Young Musicians has invited 10 musicians from the region to join its 2020 awards programme after receiving a record number of eligible applications. Among those invited is Lily, pictured, who plays the tuba. All the award winners will receive a grant of up to £2,000 to cover musical costs such as instruments, music lessons and travel.