Our Sponsor
A Message From Our Sponsor, Mr Riaz Shah OBE
From 1 September 2025, I have the honour of becoming Sponsor of AIM Academies Trust.
I am proud to build on the extraordinary legacy of our Founding Sponsor, Peter Shalson, whose vision and generosity helped establish London Academy as one of the first twelve academies under the Labour Government’s flagship reform programme. His belief in the power of education has shaped the Trust from its first day, and continues to inspire our work today. We owe him our deepest thanks and gratitude.
I feel incredibly privileged to take on this role. My commitment is simple: every child, in every classroom, every day, should get what they need to thrive—and to become a Leader for Tomorrow.
To help make that happen, I will focus on three priorities:
1. Ambitious Outcomes for Pupils
Our schools already do so much that is excellent. The focus now is on building on these strengths - strengthening teaching and curriculum, improving literacy and numeracy, raising expectations, and ensuring every student is prepared for ambitious next steps, whether in further study, apprenticeships or employment.
We are committed to developing confident, capable and compassionate young people - Leaders for Tomorrow - equipped to lead and serve their local, national and global communities.
2. Smart Use of Technology
We will use technology, especially artificial intelligence, thoughtfully and responsibly to enrich classroom learning, reduce unnecessary workload for teachers, and provide more targeted support for pupils who need it. Technology should be a tool that enhances, not replaces, the human relationships at the heart of great education - always guided by professional judgement and with strong safeguards in place.
3. Broader Horizons Through Connection
Every pupil should be regularly inspired by the world beyond school. This means deepening our links with employers, universities, mentors and cultural institutions—bringing in real-world experiences and opening doors to opportunities that help young people raise their sights and broaden their ambitions.
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My journey in education began during a 40-year career at EY, where I served as a Senior Partner and led Global Learning & Development for over 400,000 people. Today, I teach senior executives innovation and leadership as a Professor, and advise governments on their challenges including education reform.
In 2010, I made a promise to a young man with a terminal illness: that I would create a school for disadvantaged children. That promise became reality in 2016 with the opening of One Degree Academy in Enfield, where I now serve as Chair. The school has been rated Outstanding by Ofsted in both 2019 and 2025, and was recently named one of the Top 10 schools in the world by the World’s Best School Prize 2025.
AIM Academies Trust was founded to widen opportunity for the young people of North London—and to nurture the next generation of leaders. With your support and partnership, we can build on strong foundations, extend our impact, and help every child to thrive, today and in the future.
If you’d like to connect, share ideas, or explore ways we can work together, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I’d be delighted to hear from you.
Riaz Shah OBE
Sponsor, AIM Academies Trust
