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About us
English Martyrs’ Alumni and Friends welcomes you to become a member of our growing community of past students and friends of the school.
As a registered charity, the object of EMAF is as follows: The Alumni and Friends will strengthen the school’s resources, network and reputation contributing to the school’s long-term success and sustainability.
Our aims are:
- Facilitating events, reunions and guest lectures that foster a sense of community and keep alumni engaged.
- Advocating for the school and garnering support from the community and industry leaders.
- Connecting current students in their fields of interests by offering mentoring, internships and job placements.
- Providing valuable insights and feedback to enhance the school’s curriculum.
- Acting as a source of donations for, funding scholarships, supporting infrastructure projects and enabling special programmes.
- Enriching the individual student experience in the extra-curricular and co-curricular programme of the school, particularly through the provision for sport, the arts and character-building activities (including retreats, personal challenges and outdoor pursuits).
- The future development and enhancement of the school through both the provision of additional facilities, art and equipment, as well as the maintenance of existing specialist facilities and equipment over and above that provided for the curriculum.8. Supporting other student and staff initiatives as may from time to time be brought to the attention of the charity’s trustees.
Meet English Martyrs’ Alumni
Faith Adams
My name is Faith Adams, and I was a student at EMS from 2017-2022. During my time at school, I could be spotted most hanging around in the Music and Drama department, surrounding myself with the incredible facilities and taking part in all sorts of performances! I would say that she school shaped me as a person, and always nurtured my ambitions of performing in more ways than one. The highlight of my time at EMS was performing Hairspray Jr, where I had the privilege of playing Tracy Turnblad, alongside my closest school friends, as well as taking part in various other events such as concerts, pantomimes, plays, dances, and even an opera!
My love for performing was encouraged by the amazing staff, and I now live in London independently, studying at one of the UK’s top Drama Schools, ArtsEd, hoping to kick- start my career as a professional Actor!
Derry Hand
I started my time at English Martyrs’ School in 2008 joining 7 Clitheroe and continued until 2016 after completing my A Levels at the schools sixth form.
During my time at the school, I was fortunate enough to travel on three overseas trips made available to students; to Paris, Berlin and New York, experiencing a variety of language, history and culture. I was also given the opportunity to complete the Bronze, Silver and Gold Duke of Edinburgh Awards at English Martyrs’, putting into practice skills that I still use today. Thank you to all involved with the organising and running of these great experiences, that still come up in conversation, from time to time, all these years later.
After finishing my A Levels, I went into to further education, achieving a First Class Honours Degree in Aerospace Engineering and a Master of Science Degree in Human Factors in Aviation. I am now working towards a PhD at Loughborough University in the field of Human Factors, combining my knowledge in both physics and psychology, two of the subjects I selected for my A Levels.
Aside from academia, I am also the current chairman of a registered youth charity, the Leicester Navy Cadets. During my short time in this position, I have successfully raised tens of thousands of pounds through grants, for training equipment, residential trips, but the most notable being the procurement of an accessible powerboat, allowing individuals of all abilities access to the water.
I truly owe my thanks and gratitude to English Martyrs’ and its teachers for laying the foundations for me to be in the position I am today in both my education and charity roles.
Nigel Simeone
Before coming to EMS in 2012, I had worked at schools in Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire, and at universities in Nottingham, Bangor and Sheffield. When the opportunity came for a part-time post at EMS, it was perfect timing: I wanted time to write, but I also wanted to keep on teaching. It very quicky became one of the most enjoyable and rewarding jobs I’ve ever had and over the years I was able to take on more hours. I taught music from 2012 until 2019, and for most of that time, my wife Jasmine also worked in the school. For seven years, I had the pleasure of working with enthusiastic students in the classroom and on all sorts of other projects, as well as being involved in some wonderful public performances including Handel’s Messiah (for the opening of the new auditorium) and Britten’s Noye’s Fludde. There was also the huge personal pleasure of seeing several A-level students going on to study music at university – that was always a source of tremendous pride. The move in 2015 into the marvellous spaces and facilities of the St Cecilia Building was a very big moment for music at EMS, but one thing never changed: the commitment and enthusiasm of the students. It was always a place where young people willingly gave of their very best, and as a teacher, I don’t think you can ask for more than that. When retirement came in 2019 it was a bitter-sweet moment, leaving an incredibly friendly and welcoming community (which we’re both still very happy to visit whenever possible). Since then I’ve been very busy, publishing three books (with a fourth one on the way), all on musical topics, and with plenty of regular work on BBC Radio 3, reviewing recordings on Record Review or helping to present events from the Proms and the Royal Opera House. We’ve also had more chance to travel, whether in Britain for things like boating holidays on the Norfolk Broads with our dog Rocky, or to beautiful European cities such as Vienna in Austria and Brno in the Czech Republic. In other words, it’s been the best kind of ‘working’ retirement, and I hope that will continue. Meanwhile, happy memories of EMS – and lasting friendships made there – are things that will always endure.
Calum Stratton
I studied at EMS from 2017-2024, completing A-Levels in Music, History, and Politics. I’m currently studying Music at the University of Manchester. One of the things I will always remember about the school was the welcoming community, especially in the music department where I spent most of my time. Going to Italy in Year 9 was a real highlight for me that I won’t forget.
Zoe Hodgson
I thoroughly enjoyed being a part of the music department. Across my time at English Martyrs, I was lucky enough to learn to play the flute, piano, drums and steel pans. I still try and find opportunities to play my flute in groups whenever I can (although I am certainly less well practiced now – sorry Mr Lowe!). I also enjoyed moving into Sixth Form and the extra element of independence that that offered – especially as the buildings were brand new at the time. Going on expeditions as part of the Duke of Edinburgh Award was great fun and a huge learning experience. And the teachers were very patient when they’d occasionally have to come and rescue us when we’d gotten lost in the middle of the Lake District.
Some highlights were definitely the trips, like a French trip to Paris in Year 8 and an Art and Photography trip to Venice in Sixth Form. The opportunity to go to London each year and see shows like Wicked and Les Miserables was also amazing. Above all, I am grateful for the friends I made while at school – both those I am still close to and those I have since lost contact with. It was so special to grow up together. <3
After leaving English Martyrs, I went to the University of Southampton to study Marine Biology. Over the last few years, I have been lucky enough to spend time at a seal hospital in the Netherlands and to work offshore on boats around the world (as well as a stint at a COVID-19 testing site during the pandemic). Now, I live in Scotland and I am working towards a masters in Marine Mammal Science at the University of St Andrews.
