Rapper Ramz and NFL player Lawrence Cornwall Baptiste speak at Black Excellence Week event at St Marks Academy

The evening at St Mark’s, was co-ordinated by the school’s Black is Great (BIG) group. It was a sell-out event with all 300 tickets sold and a ringing success, as famous alumni came back to the school to speak.

St Mark’s alumni Rapper Ramz and Lawrence Cornwall Baptiste, who plays for the NFL team Berlin Thunder, came back to their old school to tell the audience about their experiences and to inspire other Black young people. There was also a guest speaker from University College London and a talk by the influencer Stepz.

With a range of cultural food at the catered event, guests were able to enjoy some traditional cuisine alongside the inspirational talks.

The event was held as part of St Mark’s Black Excellence Week, where the school has been hosting activities each day to celebrate the cultural diversity within the academy. During the week, the school served food from around the world in the canteen, held group coaching assemblies, put on cultural cinema screenings, held a cultural cooking club and ran a bake sale.

Head of St Mark’s CofE Academy, Aimee Gallagher, said:  

“It was a great honour to host this Black Excellence Week evening at St Mark’s and we are very grateful to all the speakers who gave up their time to come and inspire us with their stories and wise words.

Our school is dedicated to providing our students with a comprehensive understanding of history, one that honours the rich and diverse contributions of Black people. 

Black Excellence Week is not just about learning the past, but also about inspiring our students to actively shape a more inclusive future.”