Alumni Power: Ninestiles, an academy welcomes 15 former students back as staff

Ninestiles, an Academy, part of the Summit Learning Trust, is thrilled to announce that 15 alumni have returned to work at the school, enriching the learning environment and helping to shape the future of the next generation.

With former learners now holding positions in teaching, administration, site maintenance, and IT support, the school has become a vibrant hub where past and present collide in the most inspiring way.

What makes Ninestiles even more remarkable is the way in which these alumni maintain their connection to the school, with multiple families continuing to be part of the Ninestiles community. For instance, siblings Lucas and Samirah Ravoof not only work at Ninestiles, but their parents are also part of the team. Art teachers Sam and Jayne Vesey are twin sisters who have returned to teach, and IT Support Worker Tracey Enright-Stanton’s partner is also employed by the school.

This strong bond between the school and its alumni is reflected in the wide variety of roles now held by former learners, all of whom continue to contribute to the school’s success.

Among them are:

Amanda O'Donnell – Careers Lead

Lee Mortiboys – Teacher of Modern Foreign Languages

Divya Chagger – Teacher of Science

Tom Bond – Teacher of English

Alice Douglas – Teacher of Maths

Lucas Ravoof – Site Team

Samirah Ravoof – Restaurant Team

Michael Shakeshaft – Cleaner

Jayne Vesey – Teacher of Art

Sam Fear – Teacher of Art

Michelle Cowley – Admin Team

Varjit Sira – Admin Team

Tracey Enright-Stanton – IT Support

Mumin Abdul – Teacher of Maths

Marcus Rice – Support staff

The number of alumni working at the school speaks to the strong bond they have with Ninestiles and the Acocks Green community. Many of them work alongside staff members who were at the school during their time there as learners, which means they have created lasting relationships that continue to shape their approach to work. For many of these former learners, returning to work at the school provides an opportunity to give back to the place where their own educational journeys began.

Alex Hughes, Headteacher at Ninestiles, an Academy said:

"It's a truly special experience to see former learners return to work alongside us, especially as I taught seven of them myself! Many of our colleagues here once walked the same halls as our young people, and now they bring their experiences and perspectives back to the school community. This family atmosphere creates a strong sense of belonging and an inspiring environment where both learners and staff members can thrive.”

Careers Lead for Ninestiles, An Academy Amanda O’Donnell said:

“I am excited to be working with the students and staff at Ninestiles. My role is to ensure all students have access to the right advice and guidance based on their aspirations and abilities. I attended Ninestiles as a student many years ago, as did my aunts, uncles, and cousins, we have been connected to this school for over 50 years. The school was known as Hartfield when we attended and I can remember being part of the renaming of the school in the 1980's. The school has always worked with the local community, I recall singing with the choir at St Mary the Virgin Church in Acocks Green & carrying out work experience at Stone Hall Adult Education serving at coffee mornings. These opportunities shaped who I became. It’s nice to be back.”

Tom Bond, Teacher of Psychology and English said:

“My first memories of being taught by Mr Hughes were of actual interesting Geography lessons, with such props as cake to explore beach formation. I knew that he cared deeply about his subject and learners which I hadn't felt before. When I think about teachers who really helped outside of classroom setting, Mr Hughes stands out; he always had time for a question, no matter how silly, and his prowess with sports was a constant reminder to keep doing the extra-curricular clubs, even in the midst of the GCSEs. It was a fantastic feeling to see him still supporting learners years later, and helped make the decision to stay at the school easier. Genuinely, in lieu of cake, I do find myself thinking 'what would Mr Hughes do' in difficult moments, and this (usually) helps a great deal.”