MUM of three Shazia Azhar is blazing a trail which she hopes many others will follow.
And she certainly did so in style – driving to her groundbreaking new job on a powerful Suzuki Burgman scooter.
Shazia, of Edgerton, is the first woman of Pakistani origin to become a headteacher in Kirklees and has just taken up her position as head of Purlwell Infant & Nursery School in Batley.
And by a strange quirk of fate her next-door neighbour in Rumbold Road is Dr Mujahid Ali, head of Mount Pleasant Junior, Infant and Nursery School in Lockwood, the only man of Pakistani origin to become a headteacher in Kirklees.
The mother-of-three successfully manages the tricky balancing act of forging a successful solo career while keeping her family and traditional culture at the centre of her life.
Admittedly, she has shaken a few preconceptions of Asian women – especially when she roared into school for the first time on her scooter, much to the amazement of a group of boy pupils standing nearby.
“It’s a girl!” they exclaimed when Shazia took off her helmet.
Shazia, 43, believes passionately that all children, of whatever background, can achieve their full potential with the right education, encouragement and role models.
This, she says, has to be done as a partnership between the schools, parents and the community.
And at Purlwell, which has 350 pupils almost entirely of Indian and Pakistan origin, she has wasted no time in putting this into practice by getting the various groups to engage with the school.
Shazia said: “There has always been an issue with British-born pupils who have a second language, especially pupils of Pakistani origin. Traditionally they don’t do as well as other pupils
“It is very much about the aspirations of various migrant communities. It’s about having good role models and knowing you can actively go into any career you wish; you are not limited.
“At school all my teachers were white British and none of the people on TV who achieved looked like me. If you have positive role models, a child may think ‘I can do that’.”
Shazia’s success is down to her own hard work and intelligence, but she is aware that it could not be done without family support.
She is grateful to her parents, hardworking shopkeepers Ghafoor and Khanum, originally born in Sialkot, Punjab. They encouraged all their children – two girls and two boys – to work hard at school and, importantly, to keep their horizons wide.
Shazia attended school at Birkby, Fartown High and Greenhead College before studying colour chemistry at Leeds University. Her siblings also went to university and all have since developed successful careers.
She knows she wouldn’t be in the position she is today without the support of husband Arif Sharif. Arif, a self-employed gas engineer, looks after their youngest child, seven-month-old Haaris, in the mornings while grandparents babysit in the afternoons.
Shazia is extremely proud of their other two sons, Humzah, 14, and Hashim, 11, who are both “exceeding expectations” at Salendine Nook High School.
When asked about her new role as headteacher, she replied: “It’s about time! Of course, I am pleased, but it should have happened long ago, the Pakistani community is the biggest minority in Kirklees.
“There are still only four ethnic minority headteachers in Kirklees out of over 200 schools.”
She added: “I am still within the community. I am not neglectful of my duties, I do the traditional things as well.”
Speaking of Pakistani parents she said: “Raising aspirations doesn’t mean that you are going to lose young people. If you are strong within your beliefs, taking up opportunities will only strengthen them.
“Girls should be presented with equal opportunities and I hope that by being in my position, people will see that women can have a career and be true to her community.
“All children should aspire and believe that they can make a contribution. These are exciting times.”
Shazia is intending to apply her considerable energy to raise Purlwell from Good to Outstanding. Watch this space.
