Leah Chowdhry Inspires Pupils During Special School Visit

Leah talking to St Luke's about meeting King Charles

On Thursday 12th February, we were delighted to welcome Leah Chowdhry to our school, where she delivered an inspiring talk to pupils in Years 1–6.

Leah is the first British Asian woman to swim the English Channel — an extraordinary personal achievement in a field where she saw little representation growing up. During her visit, she shared her powerful story of perseverance, determination and self-belief, encouraging children to pursue their goals with confidence.

In an engaging and age-appropriate assembly, Leah spoke to pupils about representation in sport, challenging stereotypes and overcoming limiting beliefs. She highlighted the importance of visibility and positive role models in books and the media, helping children understand how seeing people like themselves achieve great things can shape aspirations and ambition.

Leah also spoke honestly about resilience — explaining how she dealt with criticism, setbacks and doubt along her journey to swimming the Channel. Her message was clear: with hard work, courage and belief in yourself, anything is possible.

The visit strongly supported our ongoing work around inclusion, aspiration and personal development. It provided pupils with a real-life example of determination, courage and positive role modelling in action.

We are incredibly grateful to Leah for giving her time so generously and for leaving such a lasting impression on our school community.