Alumni Spotlight: Isma'il

Bronagh Sumner

"Villiers Park had a monumental role in helping me discover and refine my own capabilities that in turn enabled me to succeed in my professional career. I can't think of any other thing that had such an impact on my life, for which I am forever grateful."

Isma'il  Usman, Entrepreneur and former Villiers Park Scholar

I was part of the Villiers Park Scholars Programme from my duration between GCSEs and A Levels, participating from Churchfields Academy. The Scholars Programme had a huge impact on my self confidence which in turn gave me the self belief in raising my voice, airing my opinions and having self assurance with the paths I took in time. Those small nudges and changes in my belief and behaviour in turn enabled me to realise my dreams succeed in studying law at university and eventually becoming a lawyer. 


The Villiers Park residentials in Cambridge, being in an open learning environment away from school with different students from different schools which helped us to understand our differences, interact in a refreshing environment and learn new things. This environment helped develop our minds to become scholars in a university environment. 


Villiers Park had a monumental role in helping me discover and refine my own capabilities that in turn enabled me to succeed in my professional career. I can't think of any other thing that had such a monumental outsized impact on my life for which I am forever grateful. 


Have belief in your dreams and visions, even if they seem hazy at times. Don't worry too much about the end journey, just focus on the steps you need to take today to move closer towards them. Always keep an open mind about other people, different skills, different pathways, and different journeys; there is always something we can learn from others. Lastly, so long as you are learning, you are not failing. You will win. 

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By Bronagh Sumner • March 18, 2026
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By Bronagh Sumner • February 25, 2026
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Join our team as a Trustee

By Bronagh Sumner • February 24, 2026
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Staff Spotlight: Sarah Chick

By Bronagh Sumner • February 18, 2026
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